Prophet buried alive, family acquitted for that

A Muzarabani family accused of murdering a self-proclaimed prophet who had asked them to bury him alive during a cleansing ceremony have been acquitted by the High Court.

Learnmore Mutero, Tonderai Muswere, Michael Muchengeti, Manasa Mutero and Nicholas Mutero appeared in court facing charges of murdering a self styled prophet, Shamiso Kamanya at Mazonde village under Chief Kasekete on the 30th of July 2012.

They were acquitted by High Court judge, Justice Owen Tagu after the state withdrew the matter.

The acquittal follows an application by Prosecutor Washington Munyoro who told the court that the state had failed to prove a case against the accused persons given than none of the invited state witnesses had produced incriminating evidence against the five men.

The court heard that 'Prophet' Kanyama and his colleague, Dick Benson had been invited to cleanse the homestead by the five men who were accusing their father, Zvidzai Muchengeti of possessing evil spirits that were causing deaths and suffering to other family members.

Justice Tagu heard that Kanyama told the family members that the cleansing process entailed him being buried alive in a grave shaped pit to enable him to summon more powers to drive away the evil spirits.

The five men's father, Muchengeti told the court that Kanyama measured the width, length and depth of the pit and assisted the five men in digging after which he prayed and entered the pit, lied on his stomach and ordered them to cover him with soil.

Kanyama was then buried alive, leading to his death.