By Vumani Mthiyane
Chief Mbiko Muzimuni Masuku has warned villagers in Muzimuni area against practising witchcraft following the closure of Silikwe Clinic after nurses and support staff fled their station following attacks, some of them sexual, by suspected goblins.
On Monday, the traditional leader summoned the villagers to a meeting at the clinic to discuss the issue.
The community meeting attracted more than 500 people including traditional leaders drawn from nearby villages namely, Matshiya, Silikwe, Datata, Magedleni, Zhukwe and Masholomoshe among others.
“The purpose of this meeting is to come up with a lasting solution that will free the nurses from being sexually abused by the so-called goblins. The aim is to see the clinic operating normally, serving the communities and the staff operating in a free environment.
“People might invite traditional healers and prophets but I strongly feel that my word is a strong enough warning. However, if this practice continues, traditional leaders and members of the community have to come with other solutions that can curb such practices,” warned Chief Masuku.
Last week the prophets who were invited for a cleansing ceremony reportedly removed a snake (python) from a suitcase belonging to one of the nurses.
However, narrating her ordeal before the large gathering, the nurse (name supplied) claimed that the prophets brought the live snake with them.
“The truth is that the prophets came here with their live snake which was seen by one of my children before performing their tricks. They claimed that the snake belonged to my husband (name supplied) who brought it here without my knowledge.
“As nurses we once visited some traditional healers and they told us that one of the nurses (name supplied) was keeping goblins that terrorise us during the night,” said the nurse.
Her husband who was also among the gathering also denied that the he was the owner of the goblins. .
Ward 2 councillor, Zwilibanzi Mpofu said the closure of the clinic was seriously affecting people’s health hence there is need to urgently address the problem.
“This clinic caters for more than 1 500 households and is serving two wards. We have people who are on ART, BP patients, children and pregnant women who need the service on a daily basis.
“Therefore its closure means people are now compelled to travel to Gwanda which is 40 km away from here and a single trip cost RTGS$15 meaning that one has to raise more than RTGS$50 to cover transport costs and food,” said Cllr Mpofu adding that the clinic might be re-opened this Wednesday.
In 2016, the Ministry of Health and Child Care was forced to shut down Vulindlela Clinic in Bulilima District following reports of goblins that were terrorising nursing staff and patients at the clinic.
The goblins allegedly had sex with nurses and patients and also vandalised property at the clinic.
