MARTIN MAWAYA
SHURUGWI—A 24-year-old artisanal miner who preyed on fellow mine workers under the guise of spiritual deliverance has been jailed for an effective 15 years after a Gweru court convicted him of sodomising three young men at a Shurugwi mine.
Bornwell Marange was sentenced to 15 years on each of the three counts of aggravated indecent assault, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently, meaning he will serve 15 years behind bars.
Gweru regional magistrate Sibongile Marondedze handed down the sentence after a full trial.
Marange, the court heard allegedly manipulated vulnerable co-workers by claiming he had seen troubling visions about their lives and needed to perform secret prayers at a nearby river.
The self-proclaimed prophet targeted the miners individually at Umncima Mine in Gutsaruzhinji, luring them to isolated trenches along the riverbank with promises of cleansing them of curses and evil spirits.
In one incident, an 18-year-old complainant was told he was under a spiritual curse and needed urgent deliverance.
The court heard that after leading the complainant into a disused trench, Marange instructed him to face east and pray before forcing him to masturbate as part of the so-called ritual.
While the complainant complied out of fear, Marange allegedly sexually assaulted him and later threatened him with death if he revealed what had happened.
Two other miners, aged 18 and 20, told the court they were subjected to almost identical ordeals after Marange claimed he had received prophecies concerning their lives.
Prosecutors said the attacks only came to light after one of the complainants confided in mine security guard Obert Mukarakadzi, whose own son had also allegedly been targeted by the convict.
Mukarakadzi reportedly escorted the victims to police, leading to Marange’s arrest.
Medical reports produced in court corroborated the complainants’ accounts.
In passing sentence, Marondedze said Marange had abused trust and weaponised religion to exploit vulnerable men working far from their families.
The magistrate said the offences were premeditated and left lasting trauma on the victims.
The case has sent shockwaves through the small mining community, where Marange had allegedly portrayed himself as spiritually gifted while secretly using fear and superstition to commit the crimes.
Eggrina Matutu prosecuted.
