'Prophet' in US$250,000 safe heist case

A self-proclaimed prophet based at an apostolic shrine in Eastview, Harare, has appeared in court alongside an accomplice over the alleged theft of US$250 000 from a Chinese businessman's company in the upmarket suburb of Gunhill.

Learnmore Mirison (25) and Thomas Kanhu (31) appeared before Harare magistrate Jesse Kufa facing charges of unlawful entry in aggravating circumstances. The matter was remanded to April 15 for a bail hearing.

The complainant is Zhang Yung, director of Fortitude Construction Company.

According to the State, on April 7, 2026, Yung secured US$250 000 in a safe kept inside a locked "safe room" at his premises.

It is alleged that later that night, Mirison and Kanhu, in connivance with Obert Mirison - who was employed as a night security guard at the property and is still at large - hatched a plan to steal the money.

The court heard that the suspects hired a vehicle and proceeded to the premises, where they met Obert. They allegedly retrieved keys to the safe room, unlocked it, and removed the safe after wrapping it in a blanket. They then relocked the room and fled with the keys.

The trio reportedly transported the safe to Churchill Road, where they hired another vehicle driven by Tatenda Kambarami to Eastview. From there, they moved to Mabvuku near Khaya Cement before taking the safe to Eastview Mountain, where they allegedly broke it open and shared the cash.

Obert Mirison is said to have taken the largest share before the group dispersed.

The following day, Yung discovered the theft after noticing the safe room keys were missing. He forced entry into the room and found the safe gone, prompting him to file a report at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Fife Avenue station.

On April 10, detectives from the CID tracked Learnmore Mirison to a shrine while searching for his brother. Investigations linked him to the crime, and he allegedly led police to his residence, where US$31 800 was recovered.

He also directed detectives to Eastview Mountain, where the discarded safe and blanket were recovered.

The following day, police arrested Kanhu in Eastview. He was allegedly found in possession of US$25 700 in cash and an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Detectives also seized an unregistered white Honda Shuttle valued at US$11 500, believed to have been purchased using proceeds of the crime.

Of the US$250 000 stolen, authorities have recovered US$70 600 so far, while investigations continue to locate the remaining suspect and outstanding funds.