Negovanhu villagers in Bikita witnessed a shocking testimony of a witch who confessed to bewitching her step-daughter then later reversed the curse as proof of her diabolic deed. Not knowing that she had been bewitched, Angela Murombo sought medical attention from hospitals where her condition did not improve. She then moved to prophets and traditional healers, but all failed.  However, one last try with a prophet yielded a breakthrough — she had been bewitched by her step-mother Junior Mashango — one prophet from Chipinge told her.

The next logical step to take according to the Chipinge prophet was to seek audience with Mashango. That was only possible through a report to the area chief. Chief Negovanhu was approached and he summoned Mashango. A source close to the matter explained how Murombo suffered. "Murombo was sick for a long-time with her stomach and feet swollen. When the family was about to give up after consulting doctors and traditionalists, one prophet said that she had been bewitched by her step-mother.

The step-mother is the only one who could undo the damage. That is when they took the matter to the chief," said the source. The chief asked Mashango about the accusations levelled against her, but she dared him to come up with proof. Chief Negovanhu was left with no choice but to work on proving that there was a case against Mashango. "The chief assigned his officers to take her to three different prophets including the one based in Chipinge who had fingered her.

The first and second prophets prophesied the same thing, but still Mashango declined the accusations," said the source. The chief was then left with a tricky situation to rule over. However, one of the three prophets went a step further to identify Mashango's partner in crime. The partner in crime did not have thick skin like Mashango and she broke down, opening floodgates to the case. In committing their evil act, they employed the division of labour system as Mashango's medicine affected the victim's feet while the other woman's juju dealt with the stomach. After her confession, the two women were ordered to cure their victim in public. "They wanted Murombo to suffer to death. The accomplice, who is married to Mashango's uncle, then took some herbs and reversed her act curing Murombo's feet.

To everyone's surprise, her feet went back to their normal size and the remaining problem was the stomach. Mashango took some mealie-meal and mixed with muti curing Murombo. She then declared that Murombo was not going to die until her death day set by God," said one of the Chief's law enforcers who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Efforts to get a comment from Chief Negovanhu were fruitless as he was said to be not feeling well and away. Murombo confirmed the reports, but refused to shed more light. "It's true but there is nothing I can say. The chief has to give me the go ahead to talk to you," she said. Mashango said she has paid her dues. "We were punished and paid a fine. All is well now," she said.