Prophet jailed 15 years

A SELF-STYLED Buhera prophet was slapped with a 15-year jail term by a Rusape regional magistrate after he was found guilty of raping a 15-year-old congregant.

Manica Post reported that Isaac Mushayachuru (32) of Chitindi Village under Chief Nerutanga did not waste the court's time and pleaded guilty to rape when he appeared before  Livingstone Chipadza.

He blamed his actions on evil spirits, saying he had succumbed to the devil's mechanisations.

District public prosecutor,  Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that the prophet raped the girl on May 21.

"On the day in question, the accused person was invited by the complainant's grandmother to her homestead to cleanse the compound of evil spirits that were troubling them.

"He came and conducted a cleansing ceremony as requested. However, after completing the exercise he told the grandmother that the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that the complainant had some incision marks (nyora) on her body which were put by witches. He asked the grandmother for permission to take the complainant to a nearby bush to remove the incisions. He was granted the permission to take the teenager," said  Mutyasira.

The court heard that when he arrived at the bush, Mushayachuru took some water which he prayed for.

He told the complainant that he wanted to be intimate with her as a way of removing the incisions.

"The complainant refused, but the accused person threatened her that she would die if she did not comply. Moments later she succumbed to his demands. She was raped. After committing the crime, the prophet left the girl at the bush and went to see the grandmother whom he advised that the cleansing ritual was still in progress. The complainant later went home after about 10 minutes and along the way she met her uncle who questioned her why she was not walking properly. She revealed the rape and a police report was made leading to the arrest of the prophet," said  Mutyasira.

A medical examination done on the teenager at Murambinda Mission Hospital confirmed the abuse.

Of the 15 years,  Chipadza set aside two years on condition that the prophet does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

In an unrelated rape case which occurred in Nyazura a 36-year-old polygamist with three wives and 10 children was slapped with a 15-year jail term after he was convicted of abusing a six-year-old girl at knife point.

Eliah Zumba of Village 6 in Nzvimbe had pleaded not guilty to the charges when appeared before Chipadza.

He was, however, convicted after the State, led by  Mutyasira, presented overwhelming evidence against him to warrant a conviction.

The court heard that on April 5, the complainant was left home by her mother who had gone to Mutare and she failed to return on the same day.

At around 9pm, the accused person went to the complainant's home and found the girl who was in company of her younger brother aged three.

"The accused person entered the complainant's bedroom and took her outside. He produced a knife and raped the girl," said Mutyasira.

When the complainant's mother returned she asked her daughter why she was having walking difficulties. The girl disclosed the rape and a police was made, leading the accused's arrest.

In denying the charges, Zumba told the court that the allegations were being fabricated by the girl's mother who was jealous of the progress he was making in his life.

Chipadza did not buy his case and found him guilty as charged. In reading out the sentence,  Chipadza blasted him for abusing a six-year-old girl yet he had three wives at home to quench his sexual appetite.

He told him that he was worse than animals that respect their young ones. Of the 15 years, two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.