Horrific prayer-shrine ordeal; Bulawayo self-styled prophet rapes woman during dawn prayer

POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested a self-styled prophet from Gwabalanda who belongs to the Johane Masowe Church for raping a woman twice under the guise of exorcising evil spirits.

In a statement, Bulawayo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the arrest of Zireva Solomon (21) for raping a 19-year-old woman from the same suburb in a bushy area near his shrine on 10 October.

Solomon was arrested this last Monday after the victim, who had kept the incident a secret since it occurred, finally decided to report the matter.

Inspector Ncube said the woman went to Solomon’s home on the day of the incident to ‘fulfil a prophecy’ she was supposed to complete with him.

She was asked to bring a white cloth for the ritual meant to cleanse her spirit. He led the woman to the shrine where he had sex with her, without her consent.

“On the 10th of October 2024 around 0500 hours, the complainant a female adult aged 19 years of Gwabalanda, Bulawayo went to the accused person’s place of residence to deliver a white cloth that was going to be used for cleansing.
“Upon arrival, the prophet told her that they must proceed to his shrine for cleansing purposes. When they were in a bushy area near the shrine in Magwegwe North, Bulawayo, he ordered the complainant to kneel down and he prayed for her. He then ordered her to spread the white cloth on the ground, lie on top of it facing upwards and pray with her eyes closed.”
Solomon allegedly raped her twice without protection. He then released the complainant and ordered her to go home.
“The complainant did not reveal the ordeal to anyone but on 21 October, 2024 she made a police report leading to the arrest of the accused person,” said Insp Ncube.
Insp Ncube urged the public to be cautious of false prophets who exploit the vulnerable, emphasising the need for discernment in their faith.
“Lack of faith in many people has led to criminals masquerading as prophets taking advantage and sexually abusing women. It is our appeal as the police for churches to preach the gospel of spiritual understanding so that people may be made aware that God can also hear their own prayers without the third hand from the self-proclaimed false prophets.
“Apart from rape cases, members of the public are robbed of their hard earned cash just because they always seeking spiritual divine intervention which they don’t even understand. The accused person has tarnished the image of the church and of God but will appear in court soon,” he said.