Native doctor arrested for attempted r@pe during spiritual cleansing to fix marital crisis

A self-proclaimed traditional healer has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after a Rusape court in Zimbabwe, found him guilty of attempting to r@pe a woman during what he claimed was a ritual to cleanse her home of goblins. The case revealed how the man manipulated the womans desperation to resolve marital problems. According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the incident happened on October 3, 2025, when 29-year-old Cain Mushayi approached the 34-year-old woman at her homestead in Village Domborembizi. He presented himself as a traditional healer capable of removing goblins he claimed were causing instability in her home. Trusting him, the woman allowed him into her unfinished two-roomed house for the so-called cleansing ritual. Once inside, the situation took a disturbing turn. Mushayi instructed the woman to remove her trousers before lighting a fire on a stick and placing it between her legs, insisting that the bizarre act was necessary to chase away supernatural entities. The ritual then escalated into an assault, during which he attempted to force himself on her. The NPAZ said: The offender pushed the complainant to the floor, removed his own clothes, and attempted to force himself on her. The court heard that a struggle ensued as the complainant fought back valiantly. During the struggle, the offender ejaculated on the complainants legs before she managed to overpower him and push him away. He then fled the scene. The woman managed to escape and later reported the attack, leading to Mushayis arrest and prosecution. Following the sentencing, the NPAZ issued a public advisory warning citizens to be wary of individuals posing as spiritual healers and offering unsolicited rituals, especially in private spaces. The authority said: This case serves as a stark warning against falling victim to fraudsters posing as spiritual healers to exploit vulnerable individuals. We continue to urge the public to be cautious of strangers offering unsolicited spiritual services in private spaces. The conviction and lengthy sentence have been described as an important step toward curbing predatory crimes committed under the guise of traditional or spiritual practices.