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Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
A Nyazura traditional healer who in February this year reportedly kidnapped 13 followers of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries accusing their church of broadcasting one of her artefacts of trade on Yadah television channel last week appeared at the Rusape magistrates courts to answer to the charges.

The 50-year-old traditional healer, Venencia Donda, claimed PHD Ministries belittled her healing powers.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges when her trial commenced before Rusape magistrate, Mr Shingirayi Mutiro.

Donda is charged along with her seven aides – Mathius Donda (52), Michael Donda (45), Davison Chigwengwendere (45), Murahwa Bvekerwa (32), Unice Donda (44), Esnath Wapiya (31) and Jambo Manyanga (37).

Prosecutor Mr Tafara Chawanda alleges that all the complainants are followers of PHD Ministries led by Prophet Walter Magaya.

He told the court that on February 12 this year, the 13 went to the healer’s homestead at plot No. 1 Kairezi B, Nyazura.

The victims had accompanied one of their members, a former client of the healer’s, Mr Jonas Muchafa, to return “numinous stuff” that he had been given as protection against nerve-wracking evil spirits.

Mr Muchafa and his relatives had consulted the n’anga over mysterious goings-on in their family when he was given the magical stuff.

But on second thoughts, they decided to seek deliverance from Magaya who told the Muchafas that they had been given an evil stuff and ordered them to return it to the healer.

But the family, who feared for their lives, requested for security from Magaya.

Magaya then instructed members of the church to accompany the Muchafas to the traditional healer’s home in Nyazura. They complied and went with the Muchafas in two kombis.

On arrival, Donda allegedly refused to accept them and rejected the stuff. She accused PHD Ministries of undermining her healing powers on television.

She then instructed her seven aides to block the 13 from leaving her homestead.

One of the aides, Mathius Donda (52), was ordered to use a Toyota Surf vehicle belonging to the traditional healer to block the only entrance to the homestead, thus preventing the PHD followers from leaving.

While the entrance was blocked, Donga’s aides surrounded the PHD Ministries vehicles, forcing the church members to sleep in the two kombis the whole night.

They were released the following day at around 11am. Donda and her co-accused, who are all represented by Ms Sophie Matimba of Zvimba Legal Practitioners, deny the charges.

Ms Matimba told the court in defence of Donda that her client never blocked the entrance with her vehicle or ordered her aides to block the entrance to her homestead to stop the 13 from leaving.

“It is the complainants who came to her homestead and provoked her, disturbing the accused’s peace,” she argued.

Ms Matimba said on the day in question more patients entered the homestead of the traditional healer later that night after the arrival of the 13 and the gates were never locked.

She said the gates were just closed to prevent cattle from escaping during the night.

“All accused persons will state that the complainants consented to wait to have the matter resolved in line with the prevailing customary principles applicable to the community of the Nyazura people and that they did not kidnap the complainants as alleged,” said Ms Matimba.

Two witnesses testified against the traditional healer and her aides. The matter will continue on June 12 with more witnesses set to testify.