What was supposed to be a cleansing ritual turned into a nightmare for three women who say they ran through the forest naked to escape danger. The incident happened in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, where Pamela Bako, Shillah Mabvudzi, and a third woman known as Talent say they visited a mountain retreat led by a traditional healer, Sekuru Sinaro.
According to the women, the sangoma gave them herbs to drink, bathe with, and use to wash their hands as part of the ritual. However, their fears grew after he left them with two male aides and didn’t return. Pamela said she overheard the men speaking in a way that made her fear they were being set up for sexual assault. She also questioned why they were made to stare into a mirror in a dark room while being watched.
With her baby in her arms, Pamela said she became more alarmed when one of the aides suggested that Sekuru could pay her rent. That was when she decided to run. Around 7 p.m., the women fled into the forest, each going in a different direction. Pamela said she eventually reached the main road and made it to Harare.
Meanwhile, Shillah ended up at the home of Apostle Blessed Mugwambeni, arriving half-naked and crying for help. The family, who had been praying that night, were initially frightened and thought she might be a witch. After hearing her story, they gave her clothes and tried to report the incident to the police, but were turned away because no female officers were available.
Shillah confirmed that no women were present at the shrine, which made her uneasy. When they tried to leave, she said the aides blocked them. She managed to escape after running barefoot and without her phone.
The women’s story has shocked the community and raised fresh concerns about the abuse of trust by some traditional healers. As of now, there have been no arrests or confirmed investigations.
