A spiritual cleansing ceremony at Nyaure River in Bindura ended in tragedy when two women drowned during a rituals to summon manjuzu—mythical mermaid spirits believed in some Zimbabwean traditional religions to offer beauty, wealth, and protection. The rituals, reportedly led by a self-proclaimed prophet, has shocked the local community and triggered an outpouring of criticism from traditional leaders, who blame unregulated spiritualists for putting lives at risk through unauthorised and hazardous ceremonies.
The two deceased women were part of a group of five young women who had accompanied the prophet to the sacred waters in Chief Masembura’s area. The aim was a spiritual “cleansing” ceremony meant to appease the river spirits. However, what was intended as a mystical awakening quickly spiraled into disaster.
According to reports from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), the group had gathered by the riverbank for prayers and offerings. The prophet, whose name has not been released, told ZBC that things went horribly wrong when one of the women was allegedly “taken” by the spirits—a common way followers describe spiritual possession or being overwhelmed by supernatural forces.
“I went with some women to pray and to call upon the mermaid spirits,” said the prophet in a television interview. “Each person had their own personal issues they wanted addressed. During the process, one of the women was taken by the spirits. We all rushed into the water to try to save her. In that moment, another woman drowned. Sadly, my wife also died while trying to assist.”
Local headman Chief Masembura expressed outrage over the incident, condemning the ceremony as reckless and spiritually irresponsible. He insisted that proper rituals and consultations with local traditional leaders must be observed when dealing with sacred rivers.
Bindura Tragedy: Mermaid Rituals Turns Deadly, Sparks Outrage Among Traditional Leaders
“These are not just ordinary waters,” said the headman. “There are ancient spiritual energies here, and people must seek permission and perform the right rituals before entering. We confronted this so-called prophet and he claimed to have brought rice, wine, sweets, and biscuits to appease the river spirits. But this place has never been known for mermaid sightings. Still, spiritual matters are complex and not easy to explain.”
The incident has reopened a long-standing conversation about the rise of manjuzu-related practices in Zimbabwe. While belief in water spirits has long been part of African traditional cosmology, the last few decades have seen a resurgence of interest, especially among young women drawn to promises of wealth, fame, and relationship success. However, this growing popularity has also led to exploitation by untrained spiritual practitioners offering dubious rituals for profit.
Traditional healer Sekuru Nzou weighed in on the tragedy, saying the growing trend of self-appointed spiritualists with no ancestral backing was endangering lives and distorting sacred traditions.
“What happened at Nyaure River is deeply troubling,” he said. “Many now claim to be spirit mediums or manjuzu incarnates, but true initiates are rare. You need proper spiritual guidance, not just a business card and a river.”
He explained that various types of manjuzu exist—some who communicate through dreams, others who provide herbal knowledge or act as custodians of prosperity—but all require deep ancestral connections and spiritual preparation. He warned that counterfeit rituals could mislead people into spiritual confusion or even satanic practices.
“People are buying fake mermaid spirits from charlatans,” Sekuru Nzou said. “They’re being told to perform rituals they don’t understand, and in some cases, they’re dabbling in forces they can’t control.”
Nyasha Simon, a young believer in marine spirits, echoed the concerns. She said that while manjuzu are real and powerful, many followers—especially women desperate for solutions—are falling into the hands of fraudsters.
“These spirits are not playthings,” she said. “If you go to the river with lies in your heart or with greed as your only motivation, the spirits will reject you. That’s when bad things happen—like what we saw in Bindura.”
The tragic deaths have reignited debate across Zimbabwe about the regulation of traditional spiritual practices. Some are calling for legal oversight or certification of spiritual practitioners, while others argue that African traditional religions must remain autonomous and protected from state interference.
For the grieving families and community of Bindura, however, the focus remains on mourning and understanding how what was supposed to be a sacred ceremony ended in such devastating loss. Traditional leaders are urging the public to respect age-old customs and not be misled by opportunists promising shortcuts to fortune or healing.
“This should be a wake-up call,” said Headman Masembura. “We must return to true spirituality—one that honors ancestors, protects lives, and doesn’t trade in sensationalism.”
As police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the drownings, the Bindura community is left grappling with the haunting consequences of a spiritual journey that turned fatal.
Source- ZimEye
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
