Sekuru Kafera who said Eddie Fresh and his wife died after refusing to pay for his rituals now fears for his life

CHITUNGWIZA – In the sprawling, dust-swept streets of Chitungwiza, a town where the line between the physical and the spiritual often blurs, one man’s name has become synonymous with both immense wealth and sudden, tragic death. Sekuru Amos Kafera, a prominent traditional healer whose reputation for “manufacturing” millionaires is known far beyond the borders of this dormitory town, is once again at the centre of a national conversation. However, the man who once claimed to command the forces of destiny now admits to a very human vulnerability. He is afraid.

The sangoma, who previously made headlines by claiming that the late fitness guru Eddy Takawira — popularly known as Eddie Fresh — and his wife, Shylete Masangamba – a Zimbabwe National Army officer at the time of their tragic death – perished because they failed to settle a debt for his ritual services, has come forward with a plea for protection. Speaking at the recent relaunch of the Police Client Service Charter in Chitungwiza, Sekuru Kafera did not speak of ghosts or vengeful spirits. Instead, he spoke of a very modern terror: the rampant drug trade that he says is turning his community into a battlefield.

“Our communities are living in fear,” Sekuru Kafera told the gathered crowd, his voice carrying the weight of a man who has seen both the rise and fall of the powerful. “I fear for my safety. It’s imperative that we come together, expose those supplying drugs, arrest them, and destroy their bases.”

To understand why Sekuru Kafera’s admission of fear is so significant, one must look back at the events of late 2024. The death of Eddie Fresh and his wife, Shylete, was an event that many in Zimbabwe found difficult to process. The couple, known for their lavish lifestyle and rapid ascent to wealth, died in a horrific car accident near Kutama, in the Zvimba district. While the official police reports pointed to a road traffic accident, Sekuru Kafera offered a far more chilling explanation.

He claimed that the couple were his clients and that he had performed specific rituals to ensure their success. Eddie Fresh had reportedly sought help to expand his transport business, while Shylete, a member of the Zimbabwe National Army, was looking to climb the military ranks. According to Kafera, the rituals worked—perhaps too well. Shylete was reportedly on the verge of a prestigious promotion to the Presidential Guard before her life was cut short.

The problem, according to the healer, was a matter of unpaid dues. He alleged that the couple had agreed to pay US$10,000 for his services but had only delivered US$1,500. “Eddy and his wife were my clients. I wanted them to succeed so we could both benefit. When things started going well for them, I asked them to pay for my services, but they refused four times,” Kafera stated in a previous interview.

The consequences of this refusal, he suggested, were not of his making, but were an inevitable result of “bad luck” following a broken spiritual contract. “I did not cause the accident but they got bad luck from refusing to pay my money,” he insisted. This distinction—between actively causing harm and simply allowing “bad luck” to take its course—is a common theme in Zimbabwean traditional belief, yet it did little to quell the controversy surrounding his claims.

The drama did not end with the accident. The funeral of Eddie Fresh and Shylete was marked by events that seemed to mirror the plot of a supernatural thriller. Family members reported that a kombi carrying mourners to collect the remains was involved in an accident, injuring seven people. During the burial, heavy rains lashed the mourners, and lightning reportedly struck the tent where people were seeking shelter.

“We nearly lost our lives when we went to collect their remains. The kombi we were traveling in was involved in an accident, and seven people were injured. The rain was so heavy, and lightning struck the tent where people were sheltering,” one family member claimed in a leaked voice note that circulated widely on social media. “It was terrifying. Eddy’s ghost was reportedly seen, and people fled in fear. It felt like something straight out of an African movie. We saw things we thought only happened in Nigerian films but it was happening right here.”

In the midst of this chaos, Sekuru Kafera reportedly took the extraordinary step of storming the family home, accompanied by a police officer, to demand his outstanding US$8,500. This move was met with fierce resistance. Kafera later claimed that when he tried to negotiate with the families, they returned with bouncers and attempted to assault his children. “I asked their families to meet so we could discuss the matter. They said they were going back to inform other family members, but later returned with bouncers, trying to assault my children,” he said.

Today, the man who stood his ground against bouncers and “bad luck” says he is being hunted by a different kind of predator. Chitungwiza, a town often referred to as a “dormitory” for Harare, has seen a sharp rise in drug-related crime. Chief Superintendent Ushe, from the Harare North District, described the situation as a “new cancer” that is destroying the lives of the youth. The effects, he noted, include health crises, financial ruin, and shattered relationships.

The scale of the problem is reflected in recent police data. Chief Superintendent Severino Muguti, the Commanding Officer of Chitungwiza District, revealed that in just thirty-five weeks since the relaunch of the Police Client Service Charter, law enforcement has made significant strides. This includes 95 arrests for drug-related offences, alongside the capture of murder suspects in Units L and M, and a rapist at an apostolic shrine.

“We are here to serve, to renew our covenant with the people of Chitungwiza. Together, we can foster a safer environment,” Muguti assured the public. He also addressed concerns regarding traffic enforcement, stating that the focus is on road safety rather than harassment. “Our focus is on road safety, not harassment. We aim to improve visibility on major roads and address traffic issues while treating every road user with respect.”

For Sekuru Kafera, these police efforts are a welcome start, but they do not yet provide the security he feels he needs. His fear is not unique; it is shared by many residents who see their neighbourhoods transformed by the influence of illicit substances. The healer’s presence at the police event, alongside traditionalists like the Dzamauruka Mbira Band led by Priscila Wadyewata, highlighted the unusual alliance forming between traditional authorities and modern law enforcement.

The event itself was a study in contrasts. While the speeches focused on the grim realities of crime and drug abuse, the atmosphere was occasionally lightened by the vibrant performance of the mbira band and the energetic movements of young dancer Avin Chiveza. It was a reminder of the cultural richness that still exists in Chitungwiza, even as the community grapples with the “cancer” of drug addiction.

The story of Sekuru Kafera is part of a larger, more troubling trend in Zimbabwe. The country has seen a rise in the “mbinga” culture—a term used for young, wealthy socialites whose riches are often attributed to “juju” or rituals. Figures like the late Ginimbi (Genius Kadungure) and Moana (Michelle Amuli) are frequently cited in these discussions, their lives and deaths serving as cautionary tales for those who seek “quick money” through spiritual means.

Only recently, in February 2026, the nation was gripped by another ritual-related tragedy. A well-known mobile phone dealer and a traditional healer drowned at Clydesdale Dam in Gweru while performing “Manjuzu” rituals. Witnesses claimed a sudden, mysterious whirlwind stirred the usually calm waters, dragging both men to their deaths. These incidents reinforce the belief that dealing with the supernatural is a high-stakes gamble where the “house” always wins.

Sekuru Kafera, however, remains a survivor. A man who claimed in 2021 to have fathered 55 children, he is a figure of immense influence and controversy. He has often warned against impersonators who use his name to target vulnerable clients, and his “From Rags to Riches” advertisements have promised a way out of poverty for many. Yet, his current plea for safety suggests that even those who claim to control the spiritual world cannot escape the harsh realities of the physical one.

As the sun sets over Chitungwiza, casting long shadows across the Units and the marketplaces, the fear Sekuru Kafera spoke of remains palpable. Whether it is the fear of a debt that can never be truly paid, or the fear of a drug-fuelled violence that knows no boundaries, the people of this town are looking for answers. For now, the man who once claimed to hold the keys to wealth and death is looking for something far simpler: the peace of mind to walk his own streets without looking over his shoulder.

The police have promised to “renew their covenant” with the people, but for Sekuru Kafera, the real test will be whether the law can protect him from the very real dangers that he says are “transforming a lot of people into dangerous individuals.” In a town where rituals and reality are so closely intertwined, the story of the healer who fears for his life is a stark reminder that some debts are paid in ways that no one could have predicted.

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