Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
PROPERTY Handle Africa CEO Rangariral Fariro Chrystal Mushonga lost US$100 000 to a self-styled spiritual healer in a ‘Get-Rich-Quick’ scheme, a Harare court heard over the weekend.
The court heard that Mushonga was introduced to the suspect, Modesta Simakani of Kadoma in 2022, by her sister-in-law.
It is alleged Simakani told Mushonga that she was a spiritual healer.
She said Mushonga was under the influence of a spirit that was stopping her from being rich.
The State claimed that Simakani then used her ‘spiritual expertise’ to manipulate Mushonga’s beliefs and convinced her to surrender her earnings and income to her so that the money would receive spiritual cleansing.
It is alleged that under Simakani’s deceitful counsel during the period between September 2022 and January this year, Mushonga paid US$100 000 through Mukuru Mobile Money Transfer, Innbucks and Ecocash.
Mushonga was made to believe that her financial sacrifices were necessary for her spiritual health and future prosperity.
Mushonga followed up on her money, after it had been ‘cleansed’ but Simakani was now evasive and no longer reachable.
After realising that she had been duped, Mushonga filed a police report.
Nothing was recovered.
Mathew Masinge