Miracle money 'prophet' arrested

A SELF-PROCLAIMED prophet from Gweru recently appeared in court for stealing money from church members under the guise that he was praying for it.

Simbarashe Siziba (24) of Clonsilla suburb appeared before Gweru Magistrate Mr Musaiona Shotgame facing one count of fraud and another of theft.

He pleaded guilty to both counts and was remanded in custody to December 16 for sentencing.

Prosecuting, Ms Senzeni Maphosa said on the first count, in May this year, Maud Mulizani received $200 from her grandson to buy some groceries.

"The complainant proceeded to the accused's place of residence so that he could pray for her money. Upon arrival the accused person then ordered the complainant's daughter, Faith Rangana, to go to the river to collect some stones," said Ms Maphosa.

"When Rangana had left the accused person ordered the complainant to give him the money so that he could pray for it. After some minutes of praying, the accused then gave the complainant a white cloth and told her to untie it after two months."

The court heard that Siziba told Mulizani that her money was in the cloth.

It is understood that the complainant untied the cloth after a week and discovered that her money was missing.

Inside the prophet's cloth, there was only some old bearer cheques and leaves.

Mulizani allegedly tried to locate Siziba but he was nowhere to be found.

"On count two, on November 15 at around 9AM, Ngonidzashe Chizhange gave the accused person, who is a prophet at her church, some cash amounting to $120 so that he could purchase some second hand clothes on her behalf," said Ms Maphosa.

"The accused person never returned and the complainant tried to locate him but he was nowhere to be found."

She said on December 2, Chizhange heard that Siziba had been arrested at Gweru Central Police Station on a different case.

"The complainant then proceeded to the police station and positively identified the accused person as the one he had gave money to," said Ms Maphosa.

Mulizani and Chizhange allegedly lost a combined $320 to Siziba and nothing was recovered.