Itai Mazire
A cloud of fear and superstition has descended upon the Harare City Council following the discovery of what are suspected to be ritualistic items, or “juju,” placed outside the office and in the parking bay of the city’s newly appointed top official.
Newly installed Chamber Secretary Warren Chiwawa is at the centre of the disturbing incident, which has left staff at Town House shaken and prompted calls for an internal investigation.
According to multiple sources within the council, staff arriving for work this week were met with unsettling scenes. Early Monday morning, faeces believed to be from a cat were found smeared on the door to Mr. Chiwawa’s office. The situation escalated when a dead bird and scattered peanuts were reportedly discovered in his designated parking bay, heightening fears of black magic or ritualistic practices.
Mr. Chiwawa confirmed the incident, expressing his personal concern.
“Someone has been performing black magic at my office and parking bay since last week. It has become quite frightening,” he said.
An eyewitness who requested anonymity described the moment the objects were found, painting a vivid picture of the ensuing shock.
“It was a shock arriving at Town House on Monday morning and seeing a dead bird and peanuts in Mr. Chiwawa’s parking bay. It was really alarming. I had no idea what was happening, but it felt ominous. I even took a picture because I was so surprised,” the eyewitness said.
The atmosphere at the municipal headquarters has been described as tense, with employees expressing unease about moving through certain areas of the building.
“People are shaken. These are not things you encounter every day, especially at work,” said one employee.
Another staff member detailed the cautious, and somewhat traditional, method used to dispose of the objects. “Out of caution, we sprinkled salt on the faeces, dead bird, and peanuts before flushing them down a drain,” the source explained.
While the council has yet to issue an official statement, insiders report that the bizarre episode has sparked urgent internal discussions. There are growing calls for an investigation to identify those responsible and determine their motives. Colleagues of Mr. Chiwawa noted that the incident has cast a shadow over what was anticipated to be a fresh and progressive chapter under his leadership.
Although such occurrences are rare in a formal professional environment, incidents involving suspected juju practices are not unheard of and often trigger significant fear and speculation within communities.
As uncertainty lingers, council employees are hoping for swift clarity and reassurance from management. There are also renewed calls for enhanced security measures to restore a sense of normalcy and safety within the institution.