26 Zimbabwe women wake to find panties stolen

GOKWE CENTER, Zimbabwe, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A Zimbabwe chief is calling on villagers to "desist from evil practices" after 26 women woke up to find the panties had been stolen from their sleeping bodies.

Chief Njelele of the Gokwe region said the 26 women reported waking up to find their panties had disappeared during the night and the undergarments were later found discarded in a bushy area.

Some of the missing panties were returned to their owners, while some women, fearing witchcraft, decided to burn the nicked knickers instead.

Njelele said the suspicions of supernatural involvement may not be far off, as he witnessed an owl carry off an adult dog while he was discussing the stolen panties issue with a village leader.

"It is mind-boggling what is going on in the area and I think it is wise for the villagers to desist from evil practices," the chief told Zimeye.

Gokwe police said the incident is difficult to investigate and is being left in the hands of Njelele and village leaders.

The area previously experienced panty problems in 2012, when a 62-year-old man came forward and said he was in control of a goblin responsible for stealing panties from sleeping women in Gokwe.