A Zvishavane man died last Tuesday morning at a Bulawayo hospital in a suspected case of runyoka which saw his manhood elongating to knee-level after he allegedly has s*x with a headman's wife.

A Zvishavane man died last Tuesday morning at a Bulawayo hospital in a suspected case of runyoka which saw his manhood elongating to knee-level after he allegedly has s*x with a headman's wife.


The now deceased, whose name could not be ascertained by the time of going to press, is believed to be from Chief Mazvihwa's area in Zvishavane, Midlands Province.

The man's mysterious condition reportedly sent shivers down the spines of some patients, visitors and hospital staff at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH). He was reportedly crying and writhing in agony, and died before receiving medical attention.

A source from the hospital said before the deceased took his last breath, he had confessed that he had been having s*x with a headman's wife who is suspected to have been 'fenced' by her husband.

The mysterious 'central locking system' is popularly known as runyoka. It is traditionally regarded as a safety lock applied on both men and women to enforce fidelity.

It is said that a person fences his or her spouse so that they do not have s*xual relations with other people. Indulging in s*xual intercourse with a 'locked' person often results in inexplicable illness that normally leads to death. However, some sources who are family with traditional charms have claimed to  "Zimbabwe Latest News" that if one uses a condom while having s*x with a 'locked' person, the juju usually won't work.

"There was drama on the day that he got admitted to the hospital as people jostled to catch a glimpse of his 'stretched hosepipe'. Nurses ran around trying to assist him but unfortunately he died before they attended to him. Even nurses who tried to assist him before he died said his ailment was an issue with circumstances that they could not really comprehend in medical terms," said a source who requested anonymity.

"Before he died he confessed that he slept with a headman's wife and was regretting that he failed to take heed of his relatives advice who warned him to stay away from the woman. Nurses tried to assist him by putting ice blocks to make his organ flaccid but it couldn't help," added the source.

UBH Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, could not be reached for comment, but nurses at the hospital confirmed the incident.