Bikita man jailed eight years for axe attack on uncle and aunt over witchcraft claim

Bikita man jailed eight years for axe attack on uncle and aunt over witchcraft claim
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A Bikita man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after a court convicted him of attacking his uncle and aunt at their homestead, accusing them of witchcraft.

The man, from Chikwira village under Chief Mazungunye in Masvingo Province, appeared before magistrate Innocent Bepura on 12 May 2026 facing two counts of attempted murder and one count of malicious damage to property.

According to evidence led in court, the attack happened on 27 January 2026 when the accused allegedly arrived at the couple’s home at night and questioned them about traditional clothes said to be used “to chase away evil spirits”. Proceedings heard that he then became violent after blaming his paternal uncle, Zivesu Jekara (65), for problems affecting the family.

Lucia Chabata (58) told the court they had allowed him into their home because he was a relative. “He accused my husband of witchcraft and said he was the cause of all the family problems,” she said.

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Chabata testified that the accused struck Jekara on the head with a log before throwing a stone at him as he tried to escape. She also told the court that the accused later attacked her with an axe and another log, leaving her with serious head injuries. “The accused later attacked me with an axe and another log. I managed to escape although I suffered serious head injuries,” she said.

The court heard that two doors at the homestead were damaged after the couple fled. Both victims were taken to Silveira Mission Hospital for treatment and were treated for head injuries.

In his defence, the accused denied the allegations and claimed he acted in self-defence. However, magistrate Bepura ruled that the evidence presented linked him to all the charges, and the court convicted him on two counts of attempted murder and one count of malicious damage to property.

The case adds to growing concern around violence linked to witchcraft accusations, a recurring issue in some communities, where family disputes can escalate into serious crime and court proceedings.

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