Family feud erupts over witchcraft claims against trucker’s wife

A family feud over alleged witchcraft just landed in a traditional court. The wife of a cross-border truck driver was accused by her granddaughter, Gracious Chiuta, of using supernatural means to prosper, a claim that sparked a bitter dispute brought before Chief Mutasa. The complainant, Phillipa Chuma, said a routine phone call escalated into her granddaughter shouting that she was a witch who had bewitched her to return from Durban.

Gracious denied the accusations in court, claiming Chuma had actually called her a witch first. However, a recorded call presented as evidence contradicted her denial, suggesting she had indeed made the supernatural claims. Chuma's brother, Millicent Chiuta, argued the real motive was jealousy over her stable marriage and financial comfort, citing her husband's job as a truck driver as their legitimate source of income. The husband, Petros Chuma, dismissed the witchcraft claims as painful lies driven by envy, mentioning that a dedicated WhatsApp group had been created to attack his wife.

Chief Mutasa warned against casually using witchcraft accusations, noting they permanently damage families, and emphasized that living well is not a crime. He referred the family to a traditional healer for a cleansing ritual to settle the matter and restore peace, urging them to focus on unity and respect over resentment.