Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
IN a shocking exposé, three bogus “prophets” from the Kujeke Apostolic Church — who turned out to be notorious tsikamutandas — were caught and humiliated for attempting to dupe the Mudowayi family in Mutasa.
The trio, posing as genuine prophets, claimed they could rid the family of a tormenting goblin — but at a steep price — demanding a beast or cash as payment.
Their scam, however, backfired when the so-called goblin was revealed to be nothing more than a planted calabash. The dramatic events unfolded at Chief Mutasa’s community court last Saturday, where the three impostors were publicly shamed.
Tambudzayi Mudowayi, the victim, brought the matter before the traditional court, recounting how her family was left shaken by the false prophets’ attempts to instil fear in them through their deceitful tactics.
“We attended services at Kujeke Apostolic Church, led by Bishop Courage Marume of Chaseyama. Recently, Bishop Marume visited our home, claiming that he had dreamt of our late uncle.
“He said our uncle’s spirit was being used to kill us, and offered the services of his prophets to extract the spirit,” Mudowayi told the court.
She said Marume introduced his team of prophets, who accused the family of harbouring ritual paraphernalia in their home.
Under the guise of cleansing the house, the self-claimed prophets allegedly demanded to work undisturbed.
“Before they started, my mother informed them that we were penniless, and asked them to abandon their mission if they expected payment. However, they assured us they would not ask for anything. They drew a circle with maize-meal, placed a knife in the centre and entered my mother’s bedroom.
“Chingwende, who posed as a prophet, pretended to have unearthed a goblin, but he had actually planted a calabash decorated with beads in the room. They presented it as if it had been hidden there all along,” revealed Mudowayi.
The scam further unfolded as the prophets demanded US$350 or a beast as payment for the alleged cleansing, threatening dire consequences if the family refused.
“They threatened us, saying that if we did not pay, they would return the goblin to the house and order it to kill us. They singled out my brother, Misheck, claiming he would die first. They accused us of refusing to pay because we wanted him dead so that we inherit the family wealth alone. They also claimed that they work with Mukotsanjera to instil fear in us,” said Mudowayi.
Fearing for their lives, the family reluctantly showed them a beast, though suspicions grew among villagers.
Matters worsened when Alice Black Sofende, one of the self-styled prophets, stayed behind, drinking beer at the homestead and entertaining drunk visitors, despite claiming to be a devout apostolic believer.
During the court session, it was discovered that Sofende had falsely introduced herself as a police officer stationed at Rusape Central Police Station.
Under pressure, she admitted to being a neighbourhood policewoman after being asked to present her work identity card.
Her bags were opened, revealing apostolic garments, traditional cloths (retso), a ritual sword (bakatwa), traditional staff (tsvimbo) and other bizarre paraphernalia.
“I am trying to call Bishop Marume, but he is not answering his mobile phone. He once abandoned me at another family’s homestead and he has done it again. The stuff in my bag is for my work. The retso and church garments belong to me as I was instructed by a traditional healer to always carry a resto everywhere I go. However, I am a Christian and prophetess,” Sofende said awkwardly, as the court murmured in disapproval.
Her accomplice, Brian Chingwende, was also disgraced when his bag was found stuffed with animal bones and ritual objects.
Initially, he denied it, but later admitted to being a double-faced healer.
“I am a prophet at Kujeke Apostolic Church, but I sometimes use traditional healing powers, depending on what people want. I can use God’s power or ancestral power. I obtained the bones from a dead animal, but I did not kill it. I use them to heal people with back problems,” he said, confirming the villagers’ worst suspicions.
Chief Mutasa denounced the rise of tsikamutandas in his area and vowed to protect his people from such predators.
“You are an accomplice to a crime. You should uphold the law, not break it. And as for you, Chingwende, and your so-called bishop, you are taking advantage of innocent rural dwellers by planting objects in their homes and demand payment in form of cattle and money. This must stop,” said Chief Mutasa.
He added that Government has long warned against tsikamutanda practices, which have seen many rural families lose cattle and money in staged rituals. “We do not want such fake prophets and goblin hunters in this country. You bring nothing, but fear and suffering. You prey on the vulnerable, and I will not allow it,” Chief Mutasa declared to the applause of villagers.
The case was swiftly referred to the police for criminal investigation, with Chief Mutasa insisting that the perpetrators face justice.
“This is not just a cultural issue, it is a criminal matter,” he said firmly.
