Harare – Zimbabweans are being urged to be wary of a growing trend involving individuals claiming to deploy swarms of bees to punish wrongdoers, with authorities and traditional healers alike denouncing the practice as a fraudulent scheme preying on vulnerable members of the public.
However, an investigation has revealed a darker side to this phenomenon, with numerous individuals lamenting being swindled out of their hard-earned money after seeking assistance from these self-proclaimed bee-wielding avengers. Victims claim they are lured in by the promise of supernatural retribution, only to find themselves poorer and no closer to resolving their problems.
One such victim, a resident of Sunway City in Ruwa, alleges he was charged a staggering US$400 by a Harare-based sangoma who claimed to be able to dispatch bees to identify the culprit behind a theft at his workplace. Ironically, the man himself was a suspect in the crime, and hoped the bees would exonerate him.
“I went to this n’anga who claims to send bees, but nothing came of it, and I was arrested in connection with the theft I was being accused of. My money was lost,” he lamented. “All of this is a scam; these bees are somehow manipulated to gather on a person.”
When approached for comment, approximately seven individuals who have videos circulating online showcasing their alleged ability to send bees to assist those who have been wronged, declined to speak to Kwayedza, citing vague and unconvincing reasons. This silence only adds to the suspicion surrounding their activities.
Adding his voice to the chorus of condemnation, Mr. Chaipa Mutandwa (55), the national programmes director of the Beekeepers Association of Zimbabwe, vehemently refuted the notion that bees can be controlled and directed to attack specific individuals.
“If you take a queen bee and confine it to a specific location, all the other bees will gather there,” Mr. Mutandwa explained. “There are also traditional medicines that can be added to water, causing the bees to become disoriented and allowing them to be manipulated before they recover. There is a lot of falsehood in this matter.”
Mr. Mutandwa’s explanation suggests that the bees seen swarming around individuals in these videos are likely being manipulated through the use of a queen bee or chemical substances, rather than being supernaturally controlled.
Mr. George Kandiero (50), the head of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha), echoed this sentiment, branding the use of bees purportedly sent by n’angas and prophets as a complete fabrication and a blatant scam.
“This is a scam being perpetrated by these individuals,” Mr. Kandiero stated emphatically. “Our organisation, Zinatha, does not condone such practices, and the documents being used by these individuals claiming to be from Zinatha are fake. People should refrain from seeking help from these individuals because those you see covered in bees are being paid. These bees are treated with something to prevent them from stinging these individuals.”
Mr. Kandiero further warned that these fraudsters are preying on vulnerable individuals who are drawn in by the spectacle of individuals seemingly engulfed by bees in online videos.
“If bees could truly arrest people, the police would simply use bees to apprehend criminals,” he quipped. “There are many con artists, so people should be wary of those who claim to be n’angas, prophets, or fake pastors. Many of them pay people to stage these events to attract more clients, with the person pretending to be a witch or engaging in other nefarious activities for a fee.”
Mr. Kandiero also highlighted the existence of fake goblins being sold in Mbare and Mupedzanhamo in Harare, which are then planted in people’s homes to facilitate the theft of their possessions. This serves as a reminder of the diverse range of scams and fraudulent activities that prey on people’s beliefs and fears.
“If people are facing problems, they should come to our Zinatha offices for advice rather than being swindled out of their money and being shown bees swarming around people,” Mr. Kandiero advised. “Bees cannot recover your stolen cattle or your adulterous wife; you are only adding to your problems.”
Bishop Cuthbert Nyaruvenda, the head of the Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association (ZINPA), which represents traditional medical practitioners, added his voice to the condemnation, stating unequivocally that all those claiming to be able to send bees to harm others are nothing but liars.
“If you take a queen bee and put it in your pocket, the bees will come to you, but they will never sting you,” Bishop Nyaruvenda explained. “So, there is no truth to this. People are being swindled out of their money. Those who have been defrauded should come to us and report the matter, and we will take them to the police so that these fraudsters can be brought to justice.”
Pastor Hazvinei Muchefa of RECEMI Ministries in Harare also denounced the use of bees by n’angas and prophets as fraudulent, urging people to seek solace in prayer rather than falling prey to these scams.
“These individuals use a queen bee and certain substances that prevent the bees from stinging and intoxicate them,” Pastor Muchefa explained. “These are scams involving the payment of individuals to fabricate problems they do not have and then have these bees released on them. We urge people to learn to pray for themselves and not add to their problems when they are already facing difficulties.”
Mbuya Alice Masoko Kwenda, an expert in traditional culture, shed further light on the methods employed by these con artists.
“There are people who dig up termite mounds or harvest honey and take the queen bee,” Mbuya Kwenda explained. “These con artists then take the queen bee and place it on the person they are working with in this scam, causing the bees to swarm around them. This is a hidden trick, and these con artists are defrauding people of their money.”
Mr. Tinashe Farawo, the spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), emphasized that using animals, including bees, to defraud people is a criminal offence.
“This is a clear crime,” Mr. Farawo stated. “Those who are being victimised in this way should go to the police and report the matter, and they should also come to our department so that we can understand how this is happening.”
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