Tsikamutandas cause chaos in Chitete Village

Thembelihle Mhlanga

The small community of Chitete Village of Dandanda ward in Lupane has been beset by growing discord and conflict due to the increasing presence of self-proclaimed prophets, known locally as “Tsikamutandas”.

These individuals claim supernatural powers to detect and remove malevolent spirits, or “goblins”, from people’s homes – but villagers say the Tsikamutandas are simply robbing them of their livestock and money under the guise of spiritual cleansing.

Headman Sitshudini Khumalo expressed serious concern over the situation, stating: “These Tsikamutandas have caused serious community disputes. They are robbing our villagers of their livestock and money, claiming they can rid their homes of goblins, but it is just a scam. Action needs to be taken to address this problem.”

Khonzani Ncube echoed Khumalo’s distress, saying he is “worried about the actions of these prophets causing conflict within our community and even splitting up families.” Ncube explained that the Tsikamutandas are “claiming they can see and remove goblins from people’s homesteads, but this is just sowing division and mistrust among the villagers.”

One of the self-proclaimed prophets, Takawira Njeche, defended his activities, claiming he is driven by spiritual forces to assist the community. “I am being guided by the spirits to help people rid their homes of evil goblins,” Njeche said. “The majority of the community members invite me to perform these cleansing rituals because they believe in my abilities.”

Several residents of Chitete Village have come forward to share their negative experiences with the Tsikamutandas. Thembani Moyo, a 42-year-old farmer, said he was visited by a prophet who claimed to have detected goblins in his home.

“The prophet told me that my livestock were being affected by these evil spirits, and that he could remove them for a fee of three goats,” Moyo recounted. “I was desperate to protect my animals, so I agreed. But after taking the goats, he did nothing and I realized I had been tricked.”

Similar stories have been reported by other villagers. Sihle Ndlovu, a 27-year-old mother of two, said a Tsikamutanda visited her home and insisted that her young children were possessed by goblins.

“He demanded that I pay him a large sum of money to cleanse my home and family. I was so scared for my kids that I almost agreed, but thankfully my husband stopped me before I lost all our savings,” Ndlovu said.

The rise of these self-proclaimed prophets has sown division and suspicion within the normally tight-knit community of Chitete Village. Many residents are afraid to speak out against the Tsikamutandas, fearing retribution in the form of further spiritual attacks.

Local authorities are aware of the growing problem, but have struggled to address it effectively. Lupane District Administrator Sipho Moyo acknowledged the concerning situation, stating: “We have received multiple reports of these Tsikamutandas preying on vulnerable villagers. It is a complex issue, as they cloak their criminal activities in the guise of spiritualism. But we are working to find a solution to protect our communities from this exploitation.”

For now, the people of Chitete Village remain on edge, worried about the next visit from a self-styled prophet promising to rid them of imaginary goblins – at a steep price. Headman Khumalo summed up the sentiment, declaring: “These Tsikamutandas are causing too much harm and division. We need to stop them before they destroy our community entirely.”