Disoriented elderly woman is victim of accusations of witchcraft and mistreatment in Zimpeto

An elderly woman, identified as Grandma Flora, was accused of witchcraft and acts of humiliation after being found in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the backyard of a residence in the Zimpeto neighborhood of Maputo.

The woman's presence at the location, around one o'clock in the morning, caused a stir among the residents, who, without knowing the circumstances that led her to that residence, suspected that she was involved in witchcraft practices.

However, the elderly woman's family categorically rejects the accusations and clarifies that Grandma Flora is a teacher by profession and suffers from mental disorders, a situation that, according to family members, may have contributed to her disorientation.

According to her husband, the woman left home last Saturday to go to church, but ended up getting lost and couldn't find her way back. Since then, the family has been searching for her, without success.

The elderly woman's location was later discovered following a television report about her disappearance. After identifying her whereabouts, her family traveled to Zimpeto to reunite with Grandma Flora.

Despite the outcome of the disappearance, the case has left the family outraged. Relatives claim that the elderly woman, in addition to being accused of witchcraft, was stripped naked, publicly exposed, and mistreated by some residents, in a situation they consider unacceptable.

According to the family, the woman was in a vulnerable situation and needed assistance, especially because she was disoriented and unable to clearly explain how she had arrived at the location.

The family argues that the elderly woman's state of health should have led the residents to seek help and contact the authorities, instead of resorting to accusations and acts of violence.

The episode also reignites the debate about the dangers of stigmatizing people with mental disorders and the persistence of accusations of witchcraft against the elderly in some communities. For Grandma Flora's family, it is necessary that those responsible for the acts of humiliation and mistreatment be identified and held accountable.

While awaiting clarification of the circumstances surrounding the incident, the family is now seeking to ensure the elderly woman's recovery and prevent similar situations from happening again, advocating for greater community awareness of the need to treat vulnerable individuals with dignity.