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The practice is popularly known as ukucupha unyawo/kunokora rutsoka and some people believe that someone could be bewitched using the sample.
Thabani Magise (33) of 14675 Ithaka Way in Selborne Park confessed in court that a prophet from an apostolic sect had asked him to bring a sample of soil from the police station.
The sample was to be used to exorcise the spirit of the person Magise allegedly killed, which was haunting him.
Magise is on remand for the murder case he allegedly committed two months ago and had visited the police station for a routine bail reporting.
He was in the company of his uncle, Mafukidze Muruvi (44), also from Selborne Park, when both of them attempted to take soil from Sergeant Phibion Dzindikwa’s footprint, the investigating officer in the alleged murder case.
The two denied ever trying to bewitch Sgt Dzindikwa when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Gladys Mushowe.
They were both sentenced to three months each in prison, which were wholly suspended on condition each of them completes 105 hours of community service starting on 15 August.
Magise will perform the community service at the National University of Science and Technology, while Muruvi will do his at Hillside Teachers’ College.
The magistrate said she considered that the duo engaged in a practice that was likely to disturb the police in executing their duties.
Magise was arrested on 4 June this year for the alleged murder case and was given bail with a condition that he was to report at Hillside Police Station.
On 25 July he went to the police station at about 10am in the company of Muruvi.
After being attended to, Magise requested to see Sgt Dzindikwa as he and his uncle had hatched a plan to take some soil from his footprints for ritual purposes.
Muruvi, who was following behind Magise and Sgt Dzindikwa who were walking across the driveway in front of the police station, picked up a handful of soil from one of Sgt Dzindikwa’s footprints and put it in a plastic bag.
He was seen by a Constable Dhiko putting the plastic bag into his pocket.
Muruvi told the court that Magise had asked him to take the soil on his behalf because he was having sleepless nights because of the murder case he was facing.
Magise told the court that a prophet had told him that he was going to be arrested again before the alleged murder case was completed and therefore he should bath in water mixed with the soil from the police station.
Mr Shepherd Nahamburo appeared for the State.
Online Reporter