A 72-year-old pastor, Tamunya Zvakavapano, who leads a local Apostolic sect, is facing serious unrest within his family. His relationship with his children has crumbled under shocking accusations that he practices witchcraft.
They claim that his alleged dark magic is the cause of their family misfortunes.
Zvakavapano’s three children—Alice, Asaya, and Abhasthi—have gone as far as saying that their father’s supposed w!tchcraft has led to the mental illness of one of their siblings.
They are demanding that he find a way to heal the child, or else they will continue to confront him aggressively.
The situation has escalated to the point where Zvakavapano feels threatened.
He reports that his children have threatened to k!ll him if he does not comply with their wishes, leading to a very tense family environment.
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The conflict has now moved to the Harare Civil Court, where the three children reiterated their belief that their father is involved in witchcraft. They warned the court that there could be serious consequences for Zvakavapano if he does not take their demands seriously.
During the court proceedings, Zvakavapano disclosed that Abhasthi had even hired five men to assault him. Despite this, the magistrate, Meenal Narotam, granted him a protection order to keep him safe from his children.
“I have been the target of brutal attacks from my own kids,” Zvakavapano stated as reported by H Metro. “They are threatening my life unless I do what they ask. They want me to consult traditional healers for my m3ntally ill child, suggesting that I am the cause of the problem.”
He explained that Alice and Asaya took matters into their own hands by hiring a traditional healer (sangoma) without his permission, which led to a confrontation between them. Zvakavapano recounted an incident on August 18, when Abhasthi arrived at his house with five men, shouting and throwing stones, and even breaking windows and doors while calling him a w!tch.
In response to their father’s account, the children denied any wrongdoing. They argued that his refusal to seek help for the family’s challenges only strengthens their belief in his gu!lt.
They spoke in court about their concerns for their family’s well-being, asserting, “Our father’s refusal to seek help proves he is gu!lty. We have every right to call him a w!tch and threaten him because he is using us for his own gain.”
The magistrate ultimately granted Zvakavapano a peace order, instructing the children to resolve their issues without resorting to violence. She urged them to find peaceful solutions to their family problems, putting an emphasis on reconciliation and understanding amidst the chaos.
