Lovemore Chingoma, popularly known as ‘‘Bvuma’’ in Muchisi Village where he hails from, appeared before senior Mutare magistrate Mrs Sharon Chipanga seeking protection from his neighbour, Tatenda Nhukarume, whom he said was now in the habit of assaulting him whenever they met because of the goblin issue.
“I no longer feel safe because whenever he sees me, he shouts all sorts of words. He is in the habit of provoking me and threatening me with a thorough bashing. At times he comes physical. I even took the matter to the traditional leadership in our area and we are awaiting arbitration,” he said.
Nhukarume on the other hand said he could not just stand and watch the goblin terrorising his sister and wreaking havoc at their homestead. He added that on one occasion, he got home and found it (the goblin) preparing chunks.
Said Nhukarume: “We no longer live in peace because of Bvuma’s goblin. My sister is facing hell and she is always telling me that she feels that someone will be having sex with her though she cannot see the perpetrator. Right now she is not going to school because it seems this goblin has caused her mental sickness. Lately I have been struggling to understand the things she will be saying and being her only guardian after our parents’ death, I feel it is my duty to protect my sibling.”
Asked how he knew that the goblin belonged to Bvuma, Nhukarume said the voice which was haunting them always addressed itself as Bvuma.
“Whenever one is brave enough to ask who it is and what it wants, the voice addresses itself as Bvuma and it always demands sex, saying that it has not been given a wife to meet its ‘desires,’” said Nhukarume.
In response, Bvuma admitted that he was the owner of the goblin, adding that he had sold two beasts to have a faith healer exorcise the goblin since it was also giving him problems.
“At first I thought I could handle it, but right now everything is out of control. I recently sold two beasts as payment to the faith healer who is going to help me get rid of it,” said Bvuma, who, however, refused to disclose the source of the goblin.
In her ruling, Mrs Chipanga granted the protection order and she told Nhukarume that it was a criminal offence for anyone to take the law into their own hands. She went on to advise them to have their issue settled by their traditional leadership.
