Mermaids drown prophet during baptism

Michael Magoronga
A Redcliff prophet was allegedly captured by mermaids as he performed his exorcising rituals at a Redcliff Dam last week.

Prophet Tafara Ziso of House Number 1734 Rutendo, is said to have disappeared only for his body to be found after two days following a thorough search by sea divers.

Police confirmed the incident but dismissed allegations that Ziso was seized by mermaids as alleged.

However, a close relative who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity confirmed the incident saying he was buried at his rural Chinhoyi home after the unfortunate incident.

Ziso, according to the source, had taken his congregation to a dam popularly referred to as Mabhodho for a baptism ceremony when the incident happened.

a�?Prophet went to the dam on Sunday with the intention of baptising his followers. After the baptism, one male congregant then confessed that he was in possession of some fabrics associated with spirit mediums that he wanted to get rid of as they were making his life difficult,a�? revealed the source.

Ziso, said the source, asked for the cloths which he then used to wrap some clay pots that his client had before putting a large rock to add weight to ensure the material sunk.

Thrown into the dam, the cloths did not sink; instead they floated, prompting Ziso to get into the dam in an attempt to use his hands to sink the fabrics.

a�?He tried to sink them for the first and second time but to no avail. On the third attempt that is when he was suddenly whisked under water by unseen things,a�? further revealed the source.

The congregant is then said to have run and alerted the others who in turn called the police.

Another congregant who witnessed the incident said he was shocked by what happened and felt numb andA�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� could not do anything to save the prophet.

a�?We are still to come to terms with what happened. We just stood there in shock and did not know what to do as we did not expect such kind of a thing to happen,a�? said the congregant.

Police sub-aqua unit were called in to search for the body but their efforts were all in vain.

Zisoa��s body was only found on the banks of the dam the following day by a resident. His face was deformed while parts of his nose and ears were missing.

Mourners at the funeral could be heard murmuring advocating for the closure of the dam which is said to be heavily infested with mermaids.