- Two women drowned in Nyaure River during a ritual to summon mermaid spirits.
- The ceremony was led by a self-proclaimed prophet whose wife was among the victims.
- Traditional leaders warn against unsanctioned spiritual activities in sacred waters.
Two women have tragically drowned in Zimbabwe’s Nyaure River during a controversial ritual believed to involve the summoning of mermaid spirits for wealth and fame.
Eko Hot Blog he incident, which occurred in Bindura, involved a spiritual ceremony known locally as “manjuzu,” a rising trend among some Zimbabwean women who believe that mermaid spirits can bestow riches and supernatural favour.
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The ceremony was led by a self-proclaimed prophet, who admitted his wife was among the two women who lost their lives. Speaking to the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), he said the group had entered the river to conduct the spiritual exercise when disaster struck.
“I went with some women to pray and I wanted to invoke the mermaid spirits,” he said. “One of them was taken by the spirits during the process. When we tried to rescue her, another woman died. In that attempt, my wife also drowned.”
The tragedy has stirred renewed concerns over unsanctioned spiritual practices and the growing popularity of manjuzu rituals, which often involve offerings placed in rivers believed to be inhabited by mermaid spirits.
Traditional leaders have expressed alarm. Headman Masembura condemned the incident, warning that such sacred spaces require respect and proper rituals.
“These are sacred waters, and there are underground spiritual creatures there,” he said. “Every time you go there, you must follow the proper rituals and seek the guidance of local leaders.”
He revealed that the prophet brought rice, biscuits, sweets and wine as offerings to appease the spirits, allegedly on behalf of a deceased acquaintance.
Despite the outcry, some observers say such practices continue to thrive amid economic hardship and desperation, with many young people turning to spiritual promises for solutions.
