'Prophet' jailed for violating a minor

A 37-year-old self-styled prophet from Gokwe has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of repeatedly engaging in sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl.

Clever Givemore Mujeyi, who claimed prophetic powers, was tried at the Gokwe Magistrates Court where he was found guilty of violating the minor on several occasions. He was initially handed a six-year sentence, but one year was suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, leaving him to serve an effective five years behind bars.

The court heard that in November 2025, Mujeyi approached the victim at her residence in Chief Nemangwe, Gokwe South, and proposed a romantic relationship. The two subsequently became intimate. Mujeyi later moved with the girl to Hwedza, where they began cohabiting as husband and wife.

On December 7, the pair travelled to Battlefields, where Mujeyi again engaged in sexual activity with the minor. The offences only came to light after Mujeyi abandoned the girl in Battlefields and fled with the wife of one of his congregants.

Following the sentencing, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) issued a stern reminder to the public about the importance of respecting the legal age of consent.

    "The NPAZ reminds the public that the legal age of consent is strictly enforced to protect minors from exploitation by adults in positions of perceived spiritual or social influence," the authority said in a statement.

The case has sparked outrage in the Midlands province, with community leaders urging vigilance against individuals who exploit religious authority to prey on vulnerable minors.