Goblin owner released, police failed to come up with a charge

POLICE have released a Harare man suspected to have been in possession of a goblin whom they arrested last Thursday at a roadblock.

Honest Mafa, 24, a self-styled prophet from Budiriro in Harare, reportedly walked out of Gweru Central Police Station all smiles on Saturday morning after police failed to come up with a charge against him.

Police spokesperson for Midlands Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko yesterday confirmed Mafa's release.

He said he could not give finer details over the matter as he was out of office.

Police sources said Mafa was released from police custody on Saturday morning and is believed to have proceeded to Harare with his suspected goblin.

"He was given all his belongings including the suspected goblin which had been kept at the lost and found room. There were no charges which were preferred against him and there was a directive to release him with all his belongings," said the source.

Mafa was arrested on Thursday after police at a road block near Regina Mundi High just outside Gweru, found a human-like creature dressed in a red cloth and had a wig stashed in his satchel.

The self-styled prophet stunned fellow passengers who were on board the Harare bound Mega Link bus when he confessed that the creature he was carrying was indeed a goblin when he was questioned by police.

He told the police that he was taking the goblin to Harare where he wanted to burn it after claiming that he had captured it from a homestead in Shurugwi where he was allegedly conducting a cleansing ceremony.

Insp Mahoko told reporters following the initial arrest of Mafa that police investigations were meant to establish whether Mafa had committed a crime under the Criminal Law, Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 for engaging in practices commonly associated with witchcraft.