News / Regional
Prophet left needle in 'witch's' spinal cord
04 Mar 2015 at 11:48hrs | Views
The story of Jabulani Nyoni (20), a tsikamutanda-cum-self-proclaimed prophet took a new twist with reports that it was likely to suck in six village heads from Matesti and Lubangwe who allegedly took part in the kidnapping and forced cleansing ceremonies.
Reports emanating from Jambezi, the centre of the fiasco, are that police had interviewed six village heads among them Chief Shana's assessors before releasing and advising them that they would be contacted by way of summons to allow authorities to finalise investigations.
It is said that on 6 December 2014 at around 10 am, the six village heads (names supplied) went to Mathias Sigune Ncube's homestead, a former village head in Matesti to collect him under the pretext that they wanted him to witness the cleansing ceremonies being conducted by Nyoni.
"Ncube advised them to proceed to where the cleansing rites were being conducted while he bathed and would soon join them. However, they later returned and dragged a shocked Ncube to Nyoni where he was accused of practising witchcraft before being "exorcised" through sprinkling of water and shaving his head," said a source.
Nyoni who was initially charged with assault and kidnapping when he appeared before a Victoria Falls magistrate was further remanded in custody to 6 March after the State was advised to clarify the charges which had been amended to assault and extortion.
The prosecutor, Listen Nare, on Friday said the State was opposed to bail for the extortion charge.
Nyoni allegedly terrorised villagers in Jambezi area where he claimed to be cleansing the area under Chief Shana's blessing after a reported increase in witchcraft activities.
The youthful prophet shocked the courts when he claimed that he was from three places; Gokwe, Binga and Jambezi.
The State said that he forcibly dragged villagers to a shrine where he would allegedly accuse them of practising black magic before shaving their heads against their will.
He was reported to the police after a physically challenged man, former councillor for Mununa Ward, Edson Muleya and his 74-year-old mother, Jessie Chuma were hospitalised after needles were inserted into their spines as a way of exorcising evil spirits that he claimed possessed them.
As if that was not enough, Nyoni who is reportedly a holder of Zinatha certificates would allegedly cut them with a razor blade and administer herbs before demanding cattle, goats, cash and grain from villagers as payment.
Muleya is suing Nyoni for $1 800 in damages to allow him to visit Prophet Walter Magaya to have the needle embedded in his spine removed after doctors declined to do so arguing that "black magic" had been used.
The arrest of Nyoni has seen more villagers coming forward with allegations of having been subjected to the exorcism rites and humiliation.
The crimes were allegedly committed in Lubangwe, Matesti and Jambezi between October 14 and December 12, last year.
After catching wind that police were keen to question him, Nyoni disappeared from the limelight by retreating to Bulawayo before resurfacing in Jambezi a fortnight ago on another crusade where he was arrested.
Reports emanating from Jambezi, the centre of the fiasco, are that police had interviewed six village heads among them Chief Shana's assessors before releasing and advising them that they would be contacted by way of summons to allow authorities to finalise investigations.
It is said that on 6 December 2014 at around 10 am, the six village heads (names supplied) went to Mathias Sigune Ncube's homestead, a former village head in Matesti to collect him under the pretext that they wanted him to witness the cleansing ceremonies being conducted by Nyoni.
"Ncube advised them to proceed to where the cleansing rites were being conducted while he bathed and would soon join them. However, they later returned and dragged a shocked Ncube to Nyoni where he was accused of practising witchcraft before being "exorcised" through sprinkling of water and shaving his head," said a source.
Nyoni who was initially charged with assault and kidnapping when he appeared before a Victoria Falls magistrate was further remanded in custody to 6 March after the State was advised to clarify the charges which had been amended to assault and extortion.
The prosecutor, Listen Nare, on Friday said the State was opposed to bail for the extortion charge.
The youthful prophet shocked the courts when he claimed that he was from three places; Gokwe, Binga and Jambezi.
The State said that he forcibly dragged villagers to a shrine where he would allegedly accuse them of practising black magic before shaving their heads against their will.
He was reported to the police after a physically challenged man, former councillor for Mununa Ward, Edson Muleya and his 74-year-old mother, Jessie Chuma were hospitalised after needles were inserted into their spines as a way of exorcising evil spirits that he claimed possessed them.
As if that was not enough, Nyoni who is reportedly a holder of Zinatha certificates would allegedly cut them with a razor blade and administer herbs before demanding cattle, goats, cash and grain from villagers as payment.
Muleya is suing Nyoni for $1 800 in damages to allow him to visit Prophet Walter Magaya to have the needle embedded in his spine removed after doctors declined to do so arguing that "black magic" had been used.
The arrest of Nyoni has seen more villagers coming forward with allegations of having been subjected to the exorcism rites and humiliation.
The crimes were allegedly committed in Lubangwe, Matesti and Jambezi between October 14 and December 12, last year.
After catching wind that police were keen to question him, Nyoni disappeared from the limelight by retreating to Bulawayo before resurfacing in Jambezi a fortnight ago on another crusade where he was arrested.
Source - b-metro
