adminSukoluhle Ndlovu .
A prophet fraudulently took a female believera��s money promising to pray for it.
The matter came to light when Leonard Kambazinga (37) of Ilafa village in Lalapanzi appeared before Gweru magistrate Judith Taruvinga for stealing from Esther Sunday.
He pleaded guilty telling the court he stole the money to start his own business.
He was sentenced to four years in prison with one year suspended on condition that he restitutes Sunday the sum of $3 100 before 31 March this year.
The court heard that Sunday met the accused on 3 February and he prophesiedA� that the Holy Spirit had showed him that she wanted to buy something big but was failing to do so.
Sunday then opened up to Kambazinga that she had $3 100 and wanted to buy a kombi. Kambazinga arranged a meeting to visit Sunday.
Upon arrival he instructed her to wrap the money in a white cloth before praying for it.
He told Sunday to untie the cloth after three months. On February 10 Kambazinga visited Sunday saying he wanted to pray for the money again and instructed everyone to leave the room. He put the money in a small bag and gave it to his friend Shainai.
He replaced the money with pieces of paper before tying the cloth which he gave back to Sunday and ordered her to untie after four months.
Sundaya��s friend told her that she was suspicious of Kambazinga and his colleague and the two untied the cloth and discovered that the money was gone.
A report was made to the police leading to Kambazingaa��s arrest.
Gracious Rongai represented the State.
Online Reporter