A Mutare woman, Viola Marimbire, has been accused of subjecting her former domestic worker, Linda Tambara, to forced ritual incisions, commonly known as nyora, and spiritual cleansing ceremonies.
Marimbire allegedly went further, pressuring Tambara to marry her son, Wellington Manyarara, claiming the union was ordained by ancestral spirits.
However, the marriage never took place after Tambara confided in her father and sought his intervention.
Tambara recently made the shocking allegations while testifying at Chief Mutasa’s community court, where she accused her former employer of spiritual abuse and coercive ritual practices. She said:
It was only three weeks into my employment with Marimbire when she invited traditional healers to perform rituals at her homestead.
They summoned me into the house, and I was introduced to the healers, who were from Mozambique.
My employer instructed me to accompany them into a room, where they intended to make incisions on my body.
I refused, but they overpowered me and forced me down.
Despite her pleas, Tambara said the men held her down and carried out ritual incisions on her forehead, chin, and back using a razor blade. She said:
They applied an oily substance to the cuts and ordered me to discard the razor blade. I was terrified and disoriented.
They gave me snuff to inhale and some finger millet to use for bathing. I had no idea what was happening.
After the ritual, they claimed that a spirit had possessed one of their relatives, declaring that I was to marry their son.
The experience was so distressing that I called my father to collect me the following day, which he did.
Marimbire denied the allegations, saying the rituals were meant to help her son, Wellington, who had burns from a dispute with his girlfriend.
She added that friends from Mozambique, whom she called “white garment prophets,” came to perform the spiritual cleansing. Said Marimbire:
When the prophets arrived, they focused on helping my son. During the prayer session, someone began manifesting, and requested Tambara’s presence in the house.
She was outside at the time, but returned voluntarily. No one coerced her. The rituals took place while I was present, but I did not participate. When they handed her the razor blade, she discarded it herself.
Tambara stood by her account, saying she was held against her will and subjected to a violation of both her bodily autonomy and spiritual well-being.
She added that the following day, they claimed their grandmother’s spirit had chosen her to marry their son.
Wellington confirmed Tambara’s testimony, revealing that he too had undergone the same rituals but did not understand their purpose.
Chief Mutasa condemned Marimbire’s actions and warned her against involving unrelated people especially, minors or employees, in family rituals.
The traditional leader instructed Tambara’s father to urgently consult traditional healers to clarify the purpose and possible effects of the incisions. Said Chief Mutasa:
Go and ascertain the significance of these marks. Take her to trusted healers and obtain answers. This young woman clearly requires assistance, and it must be provided promptly.
It is possible that she is no longer under your spiritual guidance, and that is something you must address immediately.
Before adjourning the case, Chief Mutasa ordered Marimbire to cover the transportation costs for the Tambara family to return for the next hearing.
He also instructed her to bring the two Mozambican healers to court to explain their involvement.
More: The Manica Post
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