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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
VILLAGERS of Mcuphi area in Chisuma, outside Victoria Falls were on Tuesday left dumbfounded after some “prophets” removed two snakes and a ‘goblin’ from two homesteads.

The snake and goblin were allegedly used for witchcraft purposes.

A Chronicle newscrew witnessed the cleansing ceremony.

The “prophets”— Rufaro Mareya, Tafireyi Mareya, Kudakwashe Mushonga, Passmore Chiwoni and Elijah Nyoni of Vatesaronika Apostolic Church in Harare, were invited following the mysterious death of Brian Ncube, 25, in February.

Ncube died after he had allegedly killed and burnt a python near his homestead but the giant snake allegedly later returned to haunt him.

He died after claiming to be seeing the giant snake entering his body through the foot until it reached his chest, resulting in his death.

The two snakes, one measuring more than one metre and the other one slightly less than a metre long, were removed from under the bed in

Ncube’s aunt’s (name withheld) bedroom hut while the goblin was recovered from a bed at a neighbour’s (name withheld) homestead.

The goblin was in the form of a horn about 30cm long covered with baboon like furs and had beads.

The bizarre creature was wrapped in neat baby wrappers and laid on the bed like a baby. There was commotion as people scurried for cover when the prophets fought with the goblin around the yard as it attempted to flee.

At one point, it literally lifted one of the prophets onto the thatched roof of the hut but he held steadfastly to it.

Scores of people from Chidobe, Sizinda, Monde, Jenkwe and Victoria Falls thronged the village as they wanted to witness the cleansing ceremony.

“Brian was killed by a snake that drips with blood and needs to be killed and burnt. Brian’s body was destroyed but his spirit is being used for witchcraft and his voice is crying in the yard. He was killed by a syndicate of seven people who are here. They took his stool and put it in a wooden plate and we want to free his spirit,” said Rufaro, one of the prophets as he addressed the crowd at the late Ncube’s homestead.

He said their mission was not to point fingers or accuse anyone of witchcraft.

For about 10 minutes, the five men struggled to apprehend the tokoloshi as they ran around the yard as it attempted to escape.

Prophet Rufaro alleged the three bizarre findings were the ones used to kill Ncube.

The woman from whose house the snakes were found disowned them saying she did not know who placed them there.

Earlier, Headman Joel Mkhwananzi, on behalf of Acting Chief Mvuthu, Bishop Matata, had said: “We’re allowing you to do your work but we don’t want amasalamusi (magic) because people want justice. We have seen a lot of fake people around.”

Ncube’s father Caison Nyathi said he wanted justice. “I’m so weak because of what we’ve established that my own people are responsible for the death of my son. My soul will only rest once justice is done,” he said.