MILLICENT HUNGWE
MASVINGO- A self styled prophet left the gallery in stiches as he narrated how he was duped by a sweet talking man who had sought prophetic healing from him.
Tafirei Muzenda (42) was fined US$200 by a Masvingo Magistrate for defrauding a self styled prophet from Mukosi Resettlement area in Renco mine, US$100 cash and an itel phone.
Muzenda from Village 11 Mkosi Resettlement is accused of conning US$100 plus an Itel A16 worthy US$60 from Tambudzai Machisa of village 17 Mkosi Resettlement.
Muzenda appeared in court and was ordered to pay US$200 as fine for his crime by Magistrate Linnet Mudzingo.
The Court heard that on the 12th of February at around 0800hrs at Village 17, the accused approached the complainant who was working in his fields in the company of his wife.
He introduced himself and stated that he was seeking for prophetic assistance alleging that her daughter was not feeling well and wanted him to assist her.
The accused was assisted but later highlighted that he was once helped by another prophet in Village 15 that was adjacent to village 17.
Muzenda said he was charged $40 of which he had $100 solid and had left it in search of change before asking for $30 from the complainant in order to retrieve his $100.
He promised to return it back, but he did not return the same day.
The Court was further told that Muzenda came back the next day showering praises on the prophet for doing a good job the previous day.
He told the prophet that, since he was impressed by his work, he now wanted a bigger cleansing ceremony to be conducted at his homestead.
While waiting for them to go back to his village, the accused then requested the complainant to slaughter a chicken for him as he was now hungry and promised to pay $10 for it.
Muzenda then notified his victims that he now had his US$100 from the other prophet, but had left it at his motorbike which had developed a mechanical fault at a nearby village.
The court was told that he then asked for $60 so that he would give them the solid US$100 at his motorbike.
Before they left, Muzenda asked for the complainant’s Itel A16 cellphone as he wanted to call his wife that they were coming home.
The accused later disappeared into thin air leaving the complainant stranded and in awe.
A police report was made at Renco Mine station and investigations led to the arrest of Muzenda.
Only the Itel A16 cellphone was recovered
