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Tendai Gukutikwa Mutare Bureau
There was drama in Mutare’s Hob-House high-density suburb last week after residents assaulted a self styled traditional healer, who had duped his client after lying that she had a goblin.

Residents bayed for the traditional healer’s blood after he failed to show up on the day of the “goblin cleansing ceremony” at the client’s house.

He had already collected the payment.

Jonathan Katsaru (43) of House Number 8102, Hob-House in Mutare has since appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Innocent Bepura.

Mr Matthew Chimutunga represented the State.

When he appeared in court, Katsaru was swollen all over the body as a result of the bashing he had received from the residents.

In mitigation, Katsaru said he had acted out of greed and that he indeed was a traditional healer.

It was the State’s case that Talent Munetsi approached Katsaru, a self styled traditional healer looking for spiritual healing.

She said she was suffering from some misfortunes in her life.

Katsaru told Munetsi that she had a tokoloshi that was tormenting her.

Munetsi begged Katsaru to cleanse her spiritually and remove the goblin from her life and he asked her to pay $53 before his services.

“He then ordered her to fast for two days before he removed the tokoloshi,” said Mr Chimutunga.

“He, however, failed to show up for the tokoloshi removal ceremony. After realising that she had been tricked, Munetsi demanded her money back from Katsaru.

“He failed to refund the money, so Munetsi ganged up with some Hob-House residents and apprehended Katsaru. They escorted him to the police where he was later arrested.”

Mr Bepura sentenced Katsaru to four months imprisonment which he, however, wholly suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour and restitution of Munetsi’s money.

In passing the sentence, Mr Bepura said cases of that nature were on the rise, therefore the need for stiffer penalties to offenders.

He said it was the court’s duty to keep first offenders out of prison, hence his passing of a non-custodial sentence to Katsaru.