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A RUSAPE ‘prophet’, Chamunorwa Kanodewera, was arrested for allegedly posing as a police detective and duped an unsuspecting woman $50 – in a backfiring deal in which he undertook to secure the release of the woman’s relative who had been caught with 725 grammes of mbanje.The arrest of Kanodewera – who conducts his prophetic sessions at a shrine located near the railway line that was sometime this year struck by lightning, has left a huge dent on his involvement in church ministry – a vital institution that converts people from a sin to Christ.
Luck eluded Kanodewera, of House Number 1142, Mabvazuva, Rusape, last Thursday after Elen Mavengahama – whom he had allegedly misled into believing he was an officer with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and could influence the release of Thomas Mahadzva, approached a senior official who exposed him as a fake agent.
Mavengahama allegedly got to know the ‘prophet’ after getting a lift from him on her way from Mabvazuva Township.
Along the way, Mavengahama disclosed to him that she was having a problem to secure the release of her son-in-law Mahadzva – of 1930, Magamba – who had been arrested on charges of possessing 725 grammes of mbanje.
The ‘prophet-cum-detective’ allegedly offered to help and demanded $200 for the job.
The man of the cloth appeared before Rusape magistrate, Ms Elizabeth Hanzi, last Saturday facing charges of contravening Sections 179 and 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – which criminalise bribery and fraud, respectively.
Kanodewera, who was represented by Mr Maxwell Chiwanza, of Rusape-based Chiwanza and Partners Legal Practitioners firm, was not asked to plead.
He was remanded in custody to September 15 for routine remand.
Mr Chiwanza said his client would enter a plea of not guilty and mention that the charges were fabricated to soil his image as a ‘prophet’ of God.
Ms Event Dhliwayo prosecuted.
Ms Dhliwayo told the court that Kanodewera demanded $200 after lying that he was a detective.
The court heard that Kanodewera told Mavengahama that being a CID official he would engage the magistrate and prosecutor handling Mahadzva’s matter to secure his release.
On spilling the beans to CID Rusape, Mavengahama was given some fake $200 trap money and Detective Sergeant Mavis Ganyata was assigned to accompany her.
Det Sgt Ganyata was dressed in worn out clothes and shoes to depict herself as a troubled granny from the rural areas.
A dragnet squad comprising of Det Sgt Sergeant Tichaona Muwawarirwa, Detective Constables Archford Chitinde and Albert Chaurura watched from a distance and pounced after a signal that the ‘prophet’ had received and pocketed the money.
“He told the victim to pay $50 on the day, saying she would pay him the balance of $150 on September 4. He told Mavengahama to come early at Rusape Magistrate’s Court to enable him to engage the magistrate and prosecutor who were handling the case before the court sits.
“He was immediately arrested after receiving the money and the bribe money of $50 was recovered from him,” said Ms Dhliwayo.
Mahadzva went on to appear before Ms Hanzi and was found guilty of possessing mbanje.
He was sentenced to 12 months in jail.
Three months were suspended for five years on the usual conditions.
Online Reporter