Online Reporter
Post Reporter
TWO self-styled traditional healers, Brighton Musemani (38) and Chale Chikudu (42), have been jailed after extorting US$1 500 from a 58-year-old nurse by producing a fake human skull, and claiming it belonged to a person killed by her husband 25 years ago.
The duo, from Rusape, initially demanded US$2 500 from the nurse, Ms Christina Hofisi, insisting the money and skull were needed for a ritual in Mozambique. They threatened her with death if she failed to comply, forcing her to hand over US$1 500.
Fed up with their demands and threats, Ms Hofisi reported the matter to the police. A search of the pair’s home uncovered bizarre items, including a dried baboon front leg, a man-made baboon head, human male genitalia, a live tortoise, and 0.452kg of dagga.
Musemani and Chikudu were arrested and charged with extortion, drug possession, and illegal hunting.
They pleaded guilty to all the charges before Rusape magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe.
Ms Hofisi, fed up with the duo’s demands and death threats, reported the matter to the police.
Musemani and Chikudu were sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, with five months suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Another five months were suspended on condition that they restitute Ms Hofisi her money by April 30, 2026.
The remaining five months were suspended on condition that they complete 175 hours of community service at ZRP Rusape and Mukuwapasi Primary, respectively.
For possessing dagga, the convicts were sentenced to pay a fine of US$300 or three months imprisonment, and an additional three months imprisonment were wholly suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The dagga was forfeited to the State.
For hunting a tortoise without a licence, they were sentenced to pay a fine of US$300 to be paid by April 30 or two months’ imprisonment.
The tortoise was surrendered to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority.
Prosecutor, Ms Faith Mutukwa said Ms Hofisi approached self-styled prophetess, Memory Magutso, for spiritual help, and she brought in Musemani and Chikudu, claiming they had powers to solve her problems.
Musemani and Chikudu purportedly exhumed a human skull at Ms Hofisi’s home, and claimed it belonged to a person killed by her late husband about 25 years ago.
“Sometime in January, the complainant approached self-styled prophetess, Memory Magutso at her house in Vengere suburb, Rusape, for spiritual deliverance. Magutso advised the complainant that she had spiritual problems and her home needed cleansing. Magutso advised the complainant that she would bring spiritual healers who could solve her problems,” said Ms Mutukwa.
On March 8, at around 6pm, Magutso, Musemani, and Chikudu went to Ms Hofisi’s house, where the two convicts were introduced as spiritual healers who could solve her problems.
The two criminals started performing a cleansing ritual, and in the process claimed to have exhumed a human skull from the yard.
“The accused persons advised the complainant that it was the skull of a person, who was killed by her husband 25 years ago,” said Ms Mutukwa.
She said the two started demanding money, which the nurse initially paid, but later reported to the police when the demands continued.
“The accused persons told the complainant to pay US$2 500, which they claimed should be taken to Mozambique together with the human skull. The complainant told the accused persons that she did not have such money, but could afford only US$500. The complainant gave the accused persons US$500, which was placed into a blanket together with the skull, and they went away.
“On March 10, Musemani phoned the complainant, demanding more money and threatening her with death if she fails to pay. The complainant advised Magutso, who accompanied her to Chikudu’s place. She handed US$1 000 to Chikudu, who was in the company of Musemani. The accused persons gave the complainant five days to pay the full amount. The accused persons continued pestering the complainant, demanding more money and threatening her with death, which led her to report the matter to the police on March 18. The accused persons were arrested, and searches were conducted for the purported human skull, but only a dried baboon front leg, man-made baboon head and human male genitalia were found in one of their rooms. The value stolen is US$1 500, and nothing was recovered,” said Ms Mutukwa.
Ends
