Prophetess arrested after forcing man to drink deadly concoction

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have arrested Charity Mafirowanda, a self-proclaimed prophetess aged 46, along with eight of her congregants following the death of 54-year-old Micky Chuma at a church shrine in Mbizo, Kwekwe.

The arrested congregants are Talent Khumalo (42), Bongani Paraffin (33), Admire Makota (23), Ronald Mandiedza (24), Margret Zireba (21), Lyton Ndlovu (19), Arnold Mashiri (23), and Pauline Banda (33).

According to police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, it is suspected that Chuma's death resulted from a harmful concoction the group forced him to drink in an attempt to cast out demons. "The suspects allegedly administered a concoction to the victim in an attempt to exorcise evil spirits, resulting in the victim's death," he said.

Further investigations suggest that after realizing Chuma had died, the accused carried his body from the shrine to his residence, where they placed it on the bed and covered it with blankets in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

"After the victim's death, the suspects allegedly carried the body from the shrine to the victim's residence, where they placed it on the bed before covering it with blankets, in an attempt to conceal the crime," the police statement reads.

The ZRP continues to investigate the matter as the suspects face potential charges linked to Chuma's death.