Kerry Kamanga, husband to Rosemary, one of the alleged witches, vowed to The Zimbabwean that despite the negative publicity and condemnation he was facing in his community, he would give his wife all the support she needed.
"She is my wife and that’s why I am here. We will wait for the trial date," he said.
The wife, 48, together with her alleged accomplice, Esnath Maodza, 56, appeared at the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court on Wednesday and were remanded out of custody to August 27 by Magistrate Fanny Nyakudya.
They first appeared in court on 27 June 2012 and were initially remanded to 11 July. The two are being charged under Section 98 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, for "engaging in practices commonly associated with witchcraft". Prosecutor Clarence Majongosi is leading the state case.
Rosemary and Maodza claim they fell out of a flying winnowing basket, which is the equivalent of a broomstick in western fable, and is the preferred mode of transport for African witches. The women allegedly told police that Shylett Muzeza, a fellow witch, was on charge of the winnowing basket while went on the witching expedition. They allegedly landed on a homestead belonging to Erenesi Mafunga, a member of the Paul Mwazha Apostolic Faith sect, who has claimed that she has spiritual powers that attracted them to her home.
Mafunga’s account relating to the events indicates that Muzeza shouted for the two to return the human flesh that they had taken from Alaska, a nearby small mining town.
During the hearing, the courtroom was packed with some curious Chinhoyi residents following the proceedings from outside the court after failing to gain entry. Maodzachose to sit on the floor of the courtroom.
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