Money-changer sur­renders mon­key that helped him get rich

Residents of Cowdray Park in Bulawayo have been left divided between disbelief, curiosity and concern following claims that a local money changer surrendered a monkey during a church deliverance session after alleging that it had become a source of personal distress.

The money changer, popularly known as an *usiphatheleni* in local currency-trading circles, reportedly attended a deliverance gathering led by religious leader Madzibaba Emmanuel Mutumwa of Johanne Masowe Yechishanu last week.

According to witnesses, the man allegedly confessed that he had obtained the monkey from a traditional healer and believed it played a role in helping him accumulate wealth through his money-changing business.

Witnesses claimed the man told congregants that he had acquired houses and vehicles during the period he possessed the animal. He further alleged that the monkey had recently become a source of fear and anxiety, making demands that he found disturbing.

Several congregants who attended the gathering said the man initially told worshippers that the monkey was merely a pet before later changing his account during prayers and questioning.

"He first said it was just a pet, but later began sharing a different story," said one witness.

Witnesses said Madzibaba Mutumwa instructed the man to return home and bring the animal if he was serious about seeking spiritual assistance.

According to those present, the man later returned with a monkey, drawing surprise from congregants.

"It was unbelievable to many people because we did not expect him to actually bring the animal," said another witness.

Some congregants claimed the monkey was dressed in a coat, prompting a mixture of shock and amusement among those gathered.

Contacted for comment, Madzibaba Mutumwa confirmed that a man had attended the gathering seeking deliverance and counselling.

"I can confirm that the man came seeking help because he said he was facing problems related to decisions he had made in pursuit of wealth," said Mutumwa.

He urged people to avoid seeking shortcuts to financial success.

"People should work hard, pray and pursue honest means of earning a living. There are no shortcuts to prosperity," he said.

The incident comes shortly after another widely discussed deliverance session in Cowdray Park involving claims surrounding an owl allegedly linked to a local businessman. Those claims have not been independently verified.

Stories involving alleged spiritual practices continue to attract significant public attention in some communities, often generating debate between those who view such accounts as evidence of supernatural activity and those who attribute them to personal beliefs, cultural traditions or psychological factors.

While the claims made during the latest incident remain unverified, the unusual episode has become a major talking point in Cowdray Park and on social media, where residents continue to debate the circumstances surrounding the money changer's confession and the role of religious leaders in addressing such cases.