Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
A self-proclaimed “magic bee sender,” who allegedly promised to recover stolen goods and cash using a swarm of mystical bees, has been dragged to court for fraud.
Jabulani Marere, a 35-year-old traditional healer from Southview Park, Harare, appeared before Mbare Magistrates’ Court this week, facing two counts of fraud involving US$940.
While Marere might boast of supernatural powers, his excuses apparently could not work magic in court. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail of US$30.
The matter was remanded to September 17.
The first complainant, Kumbulani Zhou (53), of Chitungwa village, Gokwe, had been battling a series of unfortunate events. First, his iPad mysteriously disappeared in Harare.
Then in July, a technician installed a malfunctioning Starlink system at his homestead, promising to compensate Zhou for the botched job, but promptly disappeared into thin air.
In a desperate bid to recover his losses, Zhou sought out Marere’s services on July 12, 2025.
The healer promised to send bees to track down the thief and retrieve the stolen item. However, magic apparently does not come cheap Zhou forked out a whopping US$700 for the service.
Marere confidently assured his client that the bees would deliver results within two days.
Two days passed, then a week and several more weeks. Yet, not a single bee buzzed back with results. Marere became increasingly difficult to reach, ignoring Zhou’s calls and growing hostile when confronted.
On August 8, Marere resurfaced, claiming his magical bees had apprehended the thief.
He demanded an additional US$50 to finalise the case. Zhou sent US$30 via EcoCash and promised to pay the balance in person.
Zhou met one of Marere’s accomplices to hand over the remaining US$20, the accomplice vanished again, leaving Zhou stranded.
By this time, even Zhou had realised he had been duped. Marere had changed his address and stopped answering calls altogether.
A police report was filed, but the US$750 that Zhou had paid was gone, and the bees were nowhere to be found.
The second complainant, Kudakwashe Gotami from Zvakanaka Store in Kwekwe, also fell victim to Marere’s empty promises. After Gotami’s house was broken into on July 26, thieves made off with US$120 in cash and various items of clothing.
Desperate to recover his belongings, Gotami was told about Marere’s “bees magic.”
On July 27, Gotami visited Marere’s house and paid US$160 upfront, with the assurance that his thief would confess and return the stolen items within a week.
A week later, Marere contacted Gotami with an update that the thief was apparently in pain due to the magical bees. But there was a catch, Marere demanded an additional US$30 to treat the thief so he would not die.
Gotami complied, hoping this would finally bring results. Instead, on August 8, Gotami visited Marere’s house, only to discover that the healer had packed up and relocated.
When Gotami called Marere, he was met with more excuses and was told to wait for an accomplice who eventually disappeared as well. After realising he had been tricked, Gotami reported the matter to the police.
He had lost US$190 in total, and the magical bees were nowhere to be seen. Marere was arrested after investigations revealed his elaborate con artistry. While he claimed his bees could track down thieves, it seems the only thing they managed to take was his victims’ hard-earned cash.
The court heard that none of the stolen items were recovered and the total value prejudiced in both cases was US$940.
