News / National
Self-styled prophets convicted for branding people witches
15 Nov 2011 at 21:21hrs | Views
FOUR self-styled prophets who imputed that two women were witches on separate occasions have been convicted. Two of the prophets - Givemore Chimubaira (21) and Rapheal Danharo (21) - were jointly charged with Queen Tsonga (21) who hired them to cleanse her house.
Chimubaira and Danharo later accused one of Tsonga's tenants of practicing witchcraft, saying she was responsible for the illness of her (Tsonga's) children.
In a related incident, Tapiwa June (25) and Ngoni Gwatidzo (24) imputed one of their church members a witch.
They said the Holy Spirit had revealed it to them.
June and Gwatidzo were slapped with a 15-month wholly suspended sentence by Ms Patience Madondo.
The jail term was suspended for five years on condition they do not commit a similar offence within that period, while Chimubaira, Danharo and Tsonga will be sentenced today.
Prosecutor Ms Catherine Manjengwa told the court that on July 1 this year, Tsonga invited Chimubaira and Danharo to her house.
She ordered her tenants to attend the ceremony.
Chimubaira pointed at one of the tenants and accused her of bewitching Tsonga's children.
Danharo then instructed Tsonga to write the tenant's name on an eggshell.
This did not go down well with the woman and she made a police report, which led to the arrest of the three.
In the other case, it is alleged that on March 5, June and Gwatidzo were at a church service when they told one of their members that she was a witch.
They further ordered her not to attend the church.
She made a police report leading to their arrest.
Chimubaira and Danharo later accused one of Tsonga's tenants of practicing witchcraft, saying she was responsible for the illness of her (Tsonga's) children.
In a related incident, Tapiwa June (25) and Ngoni Gwatidzo (24) imputed one of their church members a witch.
They said the Holy Spirit had revealed it to them.
June and Gwatidzo were slapped with a 15-month wholly suspended sentence by Ms Patience Madondo.
The jail term was suspended for five years on condition they do not commit a similar offence within that period, while Chimubaira, Danharo and Tsonga will be sentenced today.
Prosecutor Ms Catherine Manjengwa told the court that on July 1 this year, Tsonga invited Chimubaira and Danharo to her house.
Chimubaira pointed at one of the tenants and accused her of bewitching Tsonga's children.
Danharo then instructed Tsonga to write the tenant's name on an eggshell.
This did not go down well with the woman and she made a police report, which led to the arrest of the three.
In the other case, it is alleged that on March 5, June and Gwatidzo were at a church service when they told one of their members that she was a witch.
They further ordered her not to attend the church.
She made a police report leading to their arrest.
Source - TH
