Man Lost Half of His Tongue to Ritual Killers

By Dr Masimba Mavaza

A 31-YEAR-OLD Burma Valley man is lucky to be alive after four people — including a woman — last week manhandled him, and mutilated his tongue, before disappearing with part of it into the darkness, in a suspected case of a ritual attack.

The four accused the victim, Honest Kokota of dating one of the suspects’ ex-girlfriend.

Kokota (31) is recovering at his parents’ home in Tokodo Village in Burma Valley, after the larger part of his tongue was cut with a sharp object by the four whom he had had a beer binge with at Chitakatira Business Centre last Wednesday, a few hours before the incident.

He bled profusely before he was rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where he was treated and discharged the following day.

The shocking incident has sent tongues wagging in Chitakatira and Burma Valley areas, particularly the issue that the suspects allegedly disappeared with Kokota’s tongue, linking the incident to suspected ritual attack.

The suspects did not take anything from Kokota, including a cellphone he was holding.

The Weekender tracked Kokota to his father’s homestead in Tokodo Village in Burma Valley on Tuesday afternoon where he is recovering from the traumatic incident.

The news crew was welcomed by his father, Harare Tokodo, before taking them to the dining room where Honest was seated.

The visibly traumatised Honest failed to properly pronounce most words.

His speech was slurred and slow.

He was visibly in pain. He also denied ever dating Mateta.

“I am still in shock to fathom why people I was drinking with for the better part of the day would decide to kill me. It is actually a miracle that I am alive. I went to Chitakatira Business Centre for a few drinks since I had delivered some relish at home. I know one of the four suspects known as Mazondo (Forget Mutepfa).

“These people started buying me beer and we drunk together. That was around 3pm. At around 10pm, I left the bar and proceeded home. On my way home, I was shocked to see the assailants manhandling me.

“They accused me of dating Mateta, who was also among the assailants. I managed to identify them. They produced a sharp object, before cutting a large piece of my tongue.

“I managed to escape, and ran home, and told my wife that I had been attacked by the four assailants. I was now in serious pain and bleeding heavily. I was taken to a local clinic, before being rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital where I was treated that night. It is a lie that I ever dated Mateta,” said Kokota.

He said he is worried why the assailants took his tongue.

“I am sure this was a ritual attack. They never took away anything from me or even beat me up. They were so determined to slice my tongue, why? I wonder where they took the tongue to,” he said.

Two of the suspects — Forget Mutepfa (35) and a lady, Greater Mateta (29) — have since been arrested. The duo recently appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato, facing assault charges as defined in Section 89 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9.23.

Mutepfa and Mateta were remanded in custody, and they will be back in the dock on December 2.

The court heard that on November 20, 2024 at around 10pm, the two accused persons, together with two others who are still at large, trailed the complainant, as he was going home from Chitakatira Business Centre.

One of the suspects, Mutepfa accused Kokota of dating Mateta, who is the former’s ex-girlfriend.

The accused persons allegedly grabbed the complainant and held his hands.

One of the accused persons, allegedly grabbed an unknown object and cut Kokota’s tongue.

Kokota suffered a mutilated tongue in the process. He was rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.