Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A self-styled prophet from Waterfalls, Harare, has appeared in court facing rape charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a client during a purported spiritual cleansing ritual at a lodge.
Smart Bandawe (27) appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Jesse Kufa, who advised him to approach the High Court for bail.
The complainant, a 23-year-old woman from Rusape, alleges that the incident occurred after she sought spiritual assistance from the accused.
According to the State, the two first met on March 12, 2026, at around 2:30 pm at a shop in Rusape.
Bandawe had reportedly entered the shop requesting a place to change his wet clothes, claiming he had been assisting another family with spiritual issues.
During the encounter, Bandawe allegedly indicated that he offered spiritual help, prompting the complainant to share that she was experiencing problems with her legs.
She then took his contact details after he promised to assist her. The two later communicated via cellphone, and Bandawe invited the complainant to his shrine in Harare.
On March 29, 2026, they met in Waterfalls, Harare, before proceeding to a prayer site in Norton.
While there, Bandawe allegedly performed a prophecy and instructed the complainant to purchase a cooking stick and a broom for use in the cleansing ritual.
However, the items were not obtained. The court heard that Bandawe then took the complainant to a lodge in Retreat Farm, Waterfalls, stating that the cleansing ritual required privacy.
Once inside the lodge, he allegedly instructed the complainant to remove her clothes, leaving her wearing only underwear.
He then gave her snuff to apply to her body as part of the ritual. It is alleged that Bandawe later ordered the complainant to remove her underwear and lie on her stomach, threatening that she could suffer serious harm if she refused. Out of fear, she complied.
The State alleges that Bandawe then had unprotected sexual intercourse with the complainant without her consent.
Following the incident, the complainant reported the matter to a person identified as Mamoyo, who advised her to make a police report, leading to Bandawe’s arrest.
The complainant was referred to Mbare Polyclinic for medical examination.
