Prophet gets $200 bail for raping two church members without using protection

The leader of Crossover Ministries, who allegedly raped two converts at his house during counselling sessions, has appeared in court.

Prophet Ronald Mambohautumwe (29), was not asked to plead when he appeared before Marondera magistrate, Shane Kubonera facing four counts of rape. Prophet Ronie, as he is affectionately known as, was however, remanded out of custody to 21 September on US$200 bail. He was ordered to report at Marondera police station once every two weeks as part of his bail conditions.

State counsel Shingirai Nyengere alleged that  sometime between 1 June and 30 July Mambohautimwe lured the two complainants on different occasions into his bedroom on the pretext that he wanted to pray for them. During the prayer session that he allegedly conducted in his bedroom, Prophet Mambohautumwi is said to have sexually assaulted the two women twice each on different days.

A report was made to the police leading to Mambohautumwi's arrest. However, more women are believed to have fallen for his devious schemes. It is alleged that Prophet Ronny used his Facebook account to stalk and eventually lure several women from his congregation, who were friends with him on the social networking site, to his Landy Park home in Marondera.

The women would then stay at the house for several days while undergoing 'spiritual counselling and prayer sessions.' During the counselling sessions, which were conducted in the man of the cloth's bedroom, it is said Prophet Ronny would deceive the women into believing that it was their prophetic calling to sleep with him and eventually marry him in six months' time.

The two complainants, reportedly claim that the prophet raped them without using any protection.