Fake Prophet exposed for stage managing miracles

A Self-styled prophet who grabbed headlines for catching a live snake from a businessman's bag at his Highfield shrine is in hiding after his 'prophecy' is alleged to have been stage managed.

It has emerged that Madzibaba Peggy (real name Tsungai Makumbe) of house No. 6888B is in fact the owner of the live snake that was purported to have been found in one Bernard Muza's bag who was said to be a Kambuzuma based businessman. It turned out the snake was his and he planted it in the fake businessman's bag after bribing him with US$50 to accept the 'miracle deal'.

Investigations have revealed that the businessman is in fact a vendor at Mupedzanhamo flea market, popularly referred to by touts as 'Kotamai Botique'. The businessman's real name is Lloyd and hje stays in Chitungwiza not Kambuzuma, as previously said. His core business is selling alcohol.

We caught up with Lloyd at his workplace and he opened up. "I am lucky that the article was not seen by my relatives, it could have been another story by now. I come from a God fearing family and I don't practice juju. The day you came I was not aware that you were there for taking pictures for the newspaper because Madzibaba had advised me to act as natural as possible to dupe his followers. The bag belonged to Madzibaba and the snake was his too. We first held a meeting at his house and went to the shrine separately to deceive people. We agreed on US$50 but now I think he made a killing especially after the publication of the story. I sent a message asking to see him but he has become untouchable," said Lloyd.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Lloyd was summoned by his relatives at his village to explain the snake saga since he had no wealth as he claimed in the paper. Lloyd led this reporter to Madzibaba's house in Western Triangle, Highfield. Upon arrival, Madzibaba was initially said to be at his shrine before someone answered his call claiming that he was taking a bath. After eventually getting in touch with him, Madzibaba confirmed that he was in hiding but not because he had duped people but because his demand had increased to an extent that he had invited enemies for himself.

"I am finding no rest since that snake incident, which is why I HID from you when you came to my house. After that snake story came out, other prophets became jealous and came to my house claiming to be members of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and solicited money amounting to US$360," he said.

The Prophet could neither confirm nor deny the allegations that he planted the snake and stage managed the 'miracle'.

"I will not comment about what that businessman (Lloyd) is saying pertaining to what transpired on that day when I caught the snake," he said. Instead he became evasive and insisted that he was being victimised for his God given talent to 'prophesy'.

"I am receiving threatening phone calls and I am on my way to file a police report. I know them by their names they are going to be arrested by today (yesterday)," he said.

A fortnight ago, Madzibaba claimed that it was revealed in his prophecies that Lloyd had a snake in his bag which was left in his possession by his late father for ritual purposes. After being 'caught', Lloyd led Madzibaba to the bag where a puff adder snake was found in the bag before it was killed at the shrine.

Onlookers at the shrine bayed for Lloyd's blood before he was whisked to the nearest police station.