A young man from Bikita is grappling with a severe and mysterious !llness, which he believes is the result of a curse known as runyoka after an adulterous affair with a married woman.
Nelson Matupire, who has been experiencing intense stomach pains for the past year, has taken up residence at his lover’s home, refusing to leave until her husband performs a cleansing r!tual.
Describing the pain and discomfort that have plagued him since his involvement with the woman, he reported symptoms akin to a s3xually transmitted infection, with sensations resembling insects crawling and irritating him, similar to the local hurukuru bean.
“I met the woman in Beitbridge while she was separated from her husband, and we became intimate,” Matupire recounted. “Soon after, I began suffering from this bizarre condition. It was only later that I discovered she had been subjected to a runyoka curse, which seems to be affecting me now. I tried to seek help, but the woman and her husband disappeared, and I have been struggling ever since.”
According to Matupire, the woman eventually returned, suffering from stomach pains of her own, which she discovered were also caused by the same curse. She has since been cooperating with Matupire, but her husband remains elusive.
“The woman is experiencing similar symptoms, and she believes it’s due to the same curse that was put on her,” Matupire detailed his plight to TellZim News.
“I am staying at her place because the pain intensifies if I return home. Although I am living here, there is no romantic involvement between us now. I simply need to stay here to manage the pain.”
Matupire’s presence at the woman’s home has led to frequent run-ins with the local police and ongoing tensions with the woman’s family. Village head Isaiah Zirumbwa Magadzire confirmed the situation and reported efforts to assist Matupire. However, the primary issue is the disappearance of the woman’s husband, who is allegedly responsible for the curse.
“The man started feeling these pains after becoming intimate with a married woman. The situation worsened when the woman’s husband reconciled with her, but the curse remained,” Zirumbwa said.
“Now, the husband denies any involvement with the curse and has gone missing. We’ve sought police assistance to help manage the situation, and Matupire is currently staying in a separate room.”
Zirumbwa also appealed for community support for Matupire, who has been seeking help from various churches and is slowly improving. “We are doing what we can to support him,” Zirumbwa added. “Anyone who can offer further assistance would be greatly appreciated.”
