EVERY Saturday, the quiet suburb of Woodville Park in Bulawayo turns into a busy gathering point as people from across the southern region and neighbouring countries arrive to attend spiritual sessions led by traditional healer Gogo Chihoro.
The Harare-based healer has in recent months attracted growing attention, with clients travelling from different parts of Zimbabwe as well as neighbouring countries such as Botswana and Namibia.
According to her representatives, the weekly sessions have drawn a wide range of people, including business owners and traders from Bulawayo and surrounding districts in Matabeleland South and North, many of whom say they are seeking spiritual guidance related to business challenges, family matters and personal wellbeing.
Gogo Chihoro told Southern Eye that her work focuses on helping people find peace, resolve conflicts and recover what they believe has been lost through spiritual intervention.
“My work is about helping people restore balance in their lives. Some come seeking healing, others want clarity about problems affecting their families or businesses,” she said.
Some of her followers claim that the healer has also assisted individuals who believe their property was stolen or taken through dishonest means.
According to several clients who spoke to Southern Eye, there have been accounts circulating among followers that suspected thieves experienced unusual incidents, including being attacked by swarms of bees after alleged spiritual intervention by the healer. These claims, however, could not be independently verified.
Despite the extraordinary nature of such testimonies, they have contributed to the growing interest in the healer’s sessions.
Some business people shared personal experiences which they attribute to the consultations.
A Bulawayo-based businessman who attended the sessions also claimed improvements in his professional life.
“For years I felt stuck at work and overlooked. After consulting her and performing the cleansing rituals she recommended, things began to change. Within weeks I was promoted to a supervisory role,” he said.
Another trader who operates a hardware shop in Bulawayo said his business began to stabilise after he sought guidance.
“I was struggling with constant losses and debts. After attending the sessions and following the advice I was given, my business slowly started recovering. Customers began returning and I was able to restock my shop again,” he said.
A transport operator from Gwanda also said he experienced positive changes after consulting the healer.
“My vehicles kept breaking down and I was losing contracts. After I came here and followed the spiritual guidance I received, the situation improved. My trucks are now operating consistently and business is picking up again,” he said.
One businesswoman from Bulawayo also recounted an incident in which she claims property stolen from her shop was returned after an unusual event.
“Some of my goods had been stolen from my shop and I had almost given up hope. After consulting Gogo Chihoro, we later heard that a suspected thief was attacked by a swarm of bees and was forced to reveal where the goods had been hidden. Soon after that, my property was brought back,” she said.
Spokesperson for the healer Sibonginkosi Maphosa said hundreds of people now attend the weekly gatherings, with many businesspeople from the southern region reportedly visiting to seek guidance and later returning to share testimonies about improved fortunes.
Traditional healing remains a widely practiced cultural system in Zimbabwe, with many people combining modern medical care with spiritual or ancestral consultation.
For Gogo Chihoro, the growing crowds are simply a reflection of people searching for solutions.
“People come with many different problems. My responsibility is to guide them according to the wisdom passed down through our traditions,” she said.
"Her sessions continue to be held every Saturday in Woodville Park, where both new and returning clients gather to share experiences and seek assistance.
For appointments or enquiries, clients can contact Gogo Chihoro through her office lines: 0714 204 235, 0781 150 770 or 0777 934 542."