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Crime Reporter
A 33-year-old self-styled female prophet from Glen Norah, Harare, has been arrested on allegations of killing a patient after administering a concoction on Tuesday.
Shylet Chatikobo (33) allegedly gave the concoction to Linet Mbesa (whose age has not been given by police) in Glen Norah, leading to her death.
Mbesa, who reportedly had a growth on her body, had gone to the prophetess with a friend for spiritual healing and allegedly during the healing process, Chatikobo prepared some concoction that was boiled and given to the two to drink.
They are reported to have drank about three cups each before Mbesa’s friend started vomiting and Mbesa developed a running stomach before her health deteriorated.
Chatikobo took the two to a nearby house where Mbesa died and a report was made to the police.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed Chatikobo had been arrested on murder charges over the death.
This is not the first time that self-styled prophets have been arrested after deaths in healing ceremonies. In March this year, two female prophets from the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect were arrested in Harare on murder charges after allegedly cutting with a surgical blade the swelling veins on the left leg of a man who had sought spiritual assistance at their house in Highfield. Prosper Chinagwe (43) died after being admitted to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital after bleeding profusely.
Investigations revealed that Chinagwe visited the suspects at their Highfield home for spiritual healing before the two used the surgical blade to cut his leg, resulting in him losing a lot of blood.
Police then arrested Elina Rumhangu (36) and Dorothy Mbano (48) on murder charges. In January, another self-styled prophet allegedly raped a woman who had visited his shrine seeking prayers for her sick child.
Samuel Guta (45) of Apostle of Power of Unity in Christ Church allegedly prescribed a concoction mixed with lemons that resulted in the woman passing out during the healing session and he then raped her. In Kariba, a 15-year-old girl recently revealed to her boyfriend that she was raped several times by a self-styled prophet on several occasions at a lodge six years ago. The victim had been left in the company of the prophet, who claimed that he wanted to cast out evil spirits. Police say the girl was threatened with harm if she revealed the rape. Meanwhile, police have arrested Michael Mazenge (25) in connection with a case of attempted murder which occurred in Western Triangle, Highfield, Harare on Monday.
Online Reporter