The young Zimbabwean woman who, a couple of months ago, was vomitting small pots, buckets, braids and plates in Bulawayo is now recovering in her district of Tsholotsho in northern Matabeleland province.

By Thabo Kunene, Bulawayo

She received help from a traditional doctor after medical doctors admitted defeat in finding a remedy for her.

The woman who came from Nkwalini village in Tsholotsho was taken in July to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo. She was suffering from a strange illness which baffled Western trained doctors.

Powerless doctors
When she was brought in, it was reported that she was vomiting small items that looked like traditional African cooking pots, buckets, plates and braids. Medical doctors failed to treat her saying they had never seen anything like this before.

Consequently, her relatives decided to take her to traditional healers but they too failed to find a cure. Radio Netherlands Worldwide met with one of her relatives who said she was recovering after one traditional doctor gave her strong herbs.

‘This does not mean she is healed because she is still in pain but vomiting has stopped, said her relative Khaya Moyo. But Moyo says that now the family's fear is that once the woman is completely healed, the traditional doctor could ask for two cows as payment.

In most African communities, if you are saved from a life-threatening disease, you will be asked to pay the healers in cows.

Cleansing
Philani Ndlovu, a prominent Inyanga (tradional healer, ed) says that after she is completely healed, the woman should be cleansed. But church leaders are opposed to the cleansing ceremony. They say she should be freed from the bad spirits first.

“This woman is suffering from a demoniac induced illness. The demon torturing her must be cast out, before she is received in church” says pastor Sipho Mangena.

I visited the village where the she lives and I was told I could not see her because if she came out of the hut to speak to strangers, she might not be healed completely.

“You see my friend, this is our culture, it is not proper for you to interview the woman while she is still receiving treatment,” said one of the family members.