adminPatrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
POLICE in Zvishavane have rescued a 15-year-old girl kidnapped by a Johanne Masowe weChishanu apostolic sect “prophet” who gave her relatives $10.
Joshua Hamani was arrested on Sunday, it was not clear where, ending a major police manhunt that began on June 20.
Hamani, of Fanuel Village under Chief Madyangove in Zvishavane, and his alleged accomplice Emmanuel Tokoda appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Peter Madiba yesterday facing kidnapping charges.
Seven others, including relatives of the teenager, were also charged before being remanded to July 16 for trial.
All nine entered “not guilty” pleas.
The seven are Daniel Ndlovu, 27, Tendai Dube, 22, Cathrine Makopa, 31, Zorodzai Mabasa, 37, Marvin Sakala, 25, Burombo Chikwera, 28, all of Mazvihwa area in Zvishavane and Hamani’s sister Julia, 18. They are all members of the Johanne Masowe Chishanu sect.
Hamani and Tokoda — the driver of a Toyota Fun Cargo vehicle used in kidnapping the girl — had eluded police for two weeks.
Magistrate Madiba ordered that the girl must be brought to court to testify amid indications that she was now developing cold feet to testify against the self-styled prophet and her relatives.
For the State, Ausi Saidi said on June 20 this year, Hamani hired a Toyota Fun Cargo vehicle that was being driven by Tokoda and proceeded to Mazvihwa Village where he approached the girl’s uncle, Eckson Sibanda, and asked to be allowed to marry the girl.
He said Sibanda declined, mentioning that she was still in school and not mature enough to enter into marriage.
Saidi said Hamani approached Makopa, the girl’s aunt, and gave her $10 so that she would invite the girl to sleep over at her place.
“Makopa and Dube invited the girl to come and sleep over at their homestead which is close to Sibanda’s homestead alleging that there was an all-night prayer to which she agreed,” said Saidi.
The court heard that when the girl got to the two’s homestead, she found Mabasa, Sakala, Julia, Ndlovu and Chikwera purporting to be seeking spiritual healing.
Hamani and Tokoda also came to the homestead and gave the girl new clothes and asked her to try them to see if they fit.
“While the juvenile was trying the new clothes, the seven accused persons forced-marched her into the vehicle which was hired by Hamani,” he said.
The girl, the court heard, tried to resist and screamed for help but was overpowered and bundled into the vehicle which sped off with her.
He said Sibanda heard her screaming for help and rushed to the homestead but found her gone. He followed on foot to where the girl was being kept about 10km away.
“After walking for 10km to the hideout, he knocked on the door but no-one responded,” said Saidi.
Sibanda slept at the hut’s door until 7AM but no-one opened prompting him to proceed to the police where he reported the kidnapping. But when Sibanda returned with the police, Hamani and Tokoda had vanished with the girl, it is alleged.
Police rounded up the seven in Mazvihwa but Hamani and Tokoda had fled.
Online Reporter