A Chitungwiza-based self-proclaimed prophet has been arrested over allegations of raping a 24-year-old woman who had visited his shrine for spiritual assistance and taking her vehicle and cellphone over a disputed payment.
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Read E-PaperThe suspect, Comrade Chinyanga, popularly known as Madzibaba Masimba, operates a shrine near Pagomba in Zengeza 4.
The woman alleges that Chinyanga told her she had objects in her private parts that needed to be removed as part of a spiritual cleansing process.
According to the complainant, the suspect claimed he had to use his hands to remove the alleged objects before he raped her once without protection.
She told H-Metro that after the alleged assault, Chinyanga claimed to have removed five items, which he said were responsible for misfortunes in her life.
The woman said she confronted him over the alleged rape, but he demanded US$3,000 for the supposed spiritual cleansing.
Unable to raise the money, she alleges that the suspect ordered her to leave her vehicle and cellphone at the shrine as security.
“I was afraid and traumatised, so I handed over the car keys and cellphone to secure my freedom before leaving the shrine,” she said.
The woman subsequently reported the matter to the police.
Police reportedly recovered the vehicle on Monday at a garage at Chikwana Shopping Centre.
Chinyanga is expected to face the allegations through the legal process. The allegations have not been independently established in court.
