Residents of Bulawayo's Magwegwe suburb report encounters with a male spirit known as Bongani, a figure described as well-built with dreadlocks. Multiple women have stated that this entity assists them, often appearing human before vanishing suddenly. He is said to exclusively communicate with women, having reportedly intervened in dangerous situations, including preventing a gang rape near a local cemetery.
One woman, Nobuhle Hlatshwayo, recalled a 2011 meeting where the spirit helped carry her luggage before disappearing during a conversation. Other accounts describe similar brief, harmless interactions, often involving a figure in white clothing who vanishes without a trace. These encounters typically occur late at night, between midnight and 3:00 a.m., near the Hyde Park Cemetery area.
A traditional healer official confirmed the existence of such spirits, describing this type as an ithonga. He explained that an ithonga is generally a harmless lost spirit, which may not realize it is deceased. While the spirit itself poses little danger, people can be injured while fleeing from it.
One woman, Nobuhle Hlatshwayo, recalled a 2011 meeting where the spirit helped carry her luggage before disappearing during a conversation. Other accounts describe similar brief, harmless interactions, often involving a figure in white clothing who vanishes without a trace. These encounters typically occur late at night, between midnight and 3:00 a.m., near the Hyde Park Cemetery area.
A traditional healer official confirmed the existence of such spirits, describing this type as an ithonga. He explained that an ithonga is generally a harmless lost spirit, which may not realize it is deceased. While the spirit itself poses little danger, people can be injured while fleeing from it.
