Five members of the same family
were charged with the murder of a prophet who had been called to their
their home in the village of Mazonde, Zimbabwe to help them cleanse
their house of evil spirits.
were charged with the murder of a prophet who had been called to their
their home in the village of Mazonde, Zimbabwe to help them cleanse
their house of evil spirits.
According to local newspaper, Zed 24 News, the accused family identified as Leanmore Mutero, Tonderai Muswere, Michael Muchengeti, Manasa Mutero and Nicholas Mutero, appeared at the High Court in Harare facing a murder charge for participating in the death of self-professed Prophet Shamiso Kanyama, who accidentally died during a healing ceremony.
Pastor
Kanyama had reportedly asked his followers to bury him alive so that he
could summon more cleansing powers to heal the family that had been
plagued by mysterious deaths.
Kanyama had reportedly asked his followers to bury him alive so that he
could summon more cleansing powers to heal the family that had been
plagued by mysterious deaths.
Zed 24 News
reports that High Court Justice Owen Tagu heard how on that day, the
late pastor had been invited to attend the home in the Muzarabani
district, which is situated along the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border, by
their priest, Zvidzai Muchengeti.
reports that High Court Justice Owen Tagu heard how on that day, the
late pastor had been invited to attend the home in the Muzarabani
district, which is situated along the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border, by
their priest, Zvidzai Muchengeti.
The five men had
requested the priest to help them clean their home of evil spirits,
because it was causing mysterious deaths in their family.
requested the priest to help them clean their home of evil spirits,
because it was causing mysterious deaths in their family.
Responding
to their request to perform a healing ceremony, Kanyama had ordered his
followers to dig a grave and bury him alive because that was the way he
summoned more healing powers to ward off evil spirits. However, the
plan backfired on the prophet when instead of being resurrected as he
supposed, the men dug up the grave again to find him dead.
to their request to perform a healing ceremony, Kanyama had ordered his
followers to dig a grave and bury him alive because that was the way he
summoned more healing powers to ward off evil spirits. However, the
plan backfired on the prophet when instead of being resurrected as he
supposed, the men dug up the grave again to find him dead.
Kanyama
helped to dig his own grave before praying and jumping inside, Father
Zvidzai, who has turned State witness, told the High Court. He continued
that after laying face down in the grave, he ordered his followers to
start covering him with soil.
helped to dig his own grave before praying and jumping inside, Father
Zvidzai, who has turned State witness, told the High Court. He continued
that after laying face down in the grave, he ordered his followers to
start covering him with soil.
“He pegged a grave-shaped pit in front of my hut and asked for help to dig the pit,” Zvidzai continued. “Deceased requested to be buried alive so that he would gain power to drive away the evil forces.”
Fearing
for the life of the prophet as the men were in the process of filling
the grave, he requested the men to stop what they were doing, Joseph
Taderera told Justice Tagu.
for the life of the prophet as the men were in the process of filling
the grave, he requested the men to stop what they were doing, Joseph
Taderera told Justice Tagu.
However, they ignored
his pleas when Kanyama urged them to continue the process of burying him
alive, stating that he would rise from the grave unharmed.
his pleas when Kanyama urged them to continue the process of burying him
alive, stating that he would rise from the grave unharmed.
“I
warned the men about the danger of their actions, but my advice fell on
deaf ears because Kanyama shouted, telling me that I am disturbing his
angels, and urged them to continue filling the grave, saying that he
would later come out alive,” Taderera said.
warned the men about the danger of their actions, but my advice fell on
deaf ears because Kanyama shouted, telling me that I am disturbing his
angels, and urged them to continue filling the grave, saying that he
would later come out alive,” Taderera said.
IHarare
says Justice Tagu heard how the cleansing ceremony had to be performed
on that day because there would be a memorial service for a departed
family member on the following day.
says Justice Tagu heard how the cleansing ceremony had to be performed
on that day because there would be a memorial service for a departed
family member on the following day.