The case of a witch-hunter (tsikamutanda) and a Tsholotsho man who allegedly murdered the latter’s brother in a case involving witchcraft accusations was last Thursday transferred from Hwange to the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court.
The pair of Dankeny Mpofu (27), the tsikamutanda, and Thethela Ben Tshuma (71) are waiting to be indicted for trial at the Bulawayo High Court.
They initially appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa and were remanded to November 24 on $20 bail which was granted by the High Court in 2009.
Charges against them are that on September 25, 2008, Mpofu approached Tshuma who was not feeling well and told him that he was a witch-hunter and that his illness was being caused by his elder brother, Mqatshelwa Tshuma.
Mpofu offered to allegedly kill Tshuma’s brother on his behalf in return for payment with a beast. Tshuma allegedly agreed to have his brother killed and promised to pay Mpofu the beast as soon as the job was done.
He allegedly led Mpofu to his brother Mqatshelwa. On arrival they found Tshuma seated outside his house and Mpofu who was armed with a hammer allegedly struck him twice on the head and he died on the spot.
To cover up for the offence the two allegedly carried his body and hung it in the kitchen to appear as if he had committed suicide.
However, the offence came to light a few days later when a dog was seen in the village carrying a human arm.
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Villagers conducted a search and discovered Tshuma’s body which was partly eaten by dogs in his kitchen with a missing arm. Police investigation led to the pair’s arrest.
