A 31-year-old man from Burma Valley is fortunate to be alive following a brutal attack last week, where four individuals—among them a woman—allegedly @ss@ulted him and mut!lated his tongue in what is suspected to be a r!tualistic @tt@ck.
Honest Kokota, the victim, was confronted by the group after they @ccused him of dating the ex-girlfriend of one of the suspects.
The incident occurred after Kokota had indulged in a drinking spree at Chitakatira Business Centre just hours prior.
Kokota is currently recovering at his parents’ home in Tokodo Village, Burma Valley, after the majority of his tongue was severed with a sharp object.
He was rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, where he received treatment and was released the following day.
The shocking nature of the event has sparked rumor and speculation in the Chitakatira and Burma Valley communities, particularly concerning the alleged removal of Kokota’s tongue, which fuels suspicions of a ritualistic motive.
Notably, the assailants did not steal anything from him, not even the cellphone he was holding at the time.
A news team tracked down Kokota on Tuesday afternoon, finding him in his father’s home. Upon arrival, they were greeted by his father, Harare Tokodo, who led them to the dining room where Honest was sitting.
He appeared visibly traumatized, struggling to speak clearly, his words slow and slurred, and in evident pain.
“I’m still in shock and can’t comprehend why people I was drinking with would @tt@ck me like this. It’s truly a miracle that I survived. I was at Chitakatira Business Centre for a few drinks after delivering some food home. I know one of the @tt@ckers, known as Mazondo (Forget Mutepfa). They started buying me drinks around 3 PM,” Kokota recounted.
He continued, “Around 10 PM, as I was walking home, these individuals suddenly confronted me. They accused me of dating Mateta, who was part of the group. I recognized them as they restrained me and then one of them produced a sharp object and cut a significant portion of my tongue.”
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In a panic, Kokota managed to escape and ran home, where he informed his wife about the brutal attack. He was subsequently taken to a local clinic before being transferred to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for urgent care.
Kokota expressed concerns over the missing part of his tongue, suspecting it was taken for ritual purposes. “I believe this was a ritual @tt@ck. They didn’t steal anything from me or physically assault me otherwise. Their focus was solely on slicing my tongue—why would they do that, and where did they take it?” he pondered.
Two suspects, Forget Mutepfa (35) and Greater Mateta (29), have been apprehended and appeared before a Mutare magistrate, Mr. Xavier Chipato, on assault charges under the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act. The two have been remanded in custody, with their next court appearance scheduled for December 2.
The court proceedings revealed that on November 20, 2024, around 10 PM, the accused, along with two accomplices who remain at large, followed Kokota as he made his way home. One of the accused, Mutepfa, confronted him about alleged dating with Mateta, leading to the violent confrontation where they held Kokota down and mutilated his tongue.
As the investigation continues, the community remains unsettled, grappling with the shocking nature of this incident and the motives behind it.
