Epworth Duo Jailed for kidnapping Teenage Girl in Alleged “Manjuzu” Cult Initiation

A 15-year-old girl from Epworth has been rescued from two residents who kidnapped and attempted to initiate her into a suspected spiritual cult in a chilling case that has shocked the community.

The pair — Fortunate Anesu Nyandoro (30) and Tadiwanashe Benjamin (25), both from the Green Valley area — were each sentenced to nine months in prison after being convicted of kidnapping by the Epworth Magistrates Court on October 7, 2025.

According to court records, the incident began on September 25, 2025, when the teenage girl, who lived with her aunt in Epworth, went missing after allegedly fleeing from home. She reportedly told the duo that her aunt had forced her to drink some traditional herbs.

Instead of assisting the minor or alerting her guardians, Nyandoro and Benjamin kept her hidden at their residence and allegedly tried to initiate her into a “manjuzu” spirit cult, a ritual believed to involve possession by water spirits.

When the girl’s family began searching for her, the pair denied any knowledge of her whereabouts, misleading both relatives and neighbours.

However, their deception unraveled after an anonymous tip-off led police to their home on October 3, where the missing girl was found unconscious and drugged. She was immediately taken for medical attention, while the suspects were arrested and charged.

During the trial, prosecutors described the ordeal as a “disturbing abuse of trust and manipulation of cultural beliefs,” arguing that the offenders took advantage of the girl’s vulnerability under the guise of spirituality.

Magistrate [insert name if known] condemned the pair’s conduct, stating that such acts endangered the safety and psychological well-being of a minor. The court noted that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others exploiting religion or traditional practices to commit crimes.

The young victim has since been reunited with her family, while authorities have urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant against individuals exploiting cultural or spiritual claims for harmful purposes.