Hungry prophet breaks into house, steals

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After a five-day fast on a mountain, a hungry apostolic prophet could not help himself as he allegedly broke into a nearby house to steal property, which he wanted to sell to buy food.

After a five-day fast on a mountain, a hungry apostolic prophet could not help himself as he allegedly broke into a nearby house to steal property, which he wanted to sell to buy food.

PRESTIGE GAMA OWN CORRESPONDENT

Admire Maguwende Jonhera (32) appeared before Western Commonage provincial magistrate Willard Mafios Moyo, where he faced charges of unlawful entry and theft.

He pleaded guilty to the charge, saying he was hungry after his stay on the mountain and had nowhere to go.

He was further remanded in custody to tomorrow for trial.

The Harare-based prophet reportedly came to Bulawayo last week for prayer sessions, but he failed to continue his long fast.

“I came from Harare and there is no one I know in Bulawayo,” he said.

“I was dedicating myself to prayer, but I became weak and hungry to the extent that I could not resist the temptation of stealing.”

Jonhera blamed evil spirits for his act and asked the courts to forgive him and allow him to go back to Harare, where he is based.

Jonhera confidently claimed that after his act he was considering quitting his ministry and going back to his home, where he would embark on farming.

“I will definitely quit preaching, head back to my rural home and practice farming,” he said.

Prosecutor Mufaro Mageza told the court that last week, the starving prophet came down from a mountain and went to nearby houses, broke in and stole property.

This happened after a maid left a door unlocked and went to a neighbour’s house for a few minutes.

Upon her return, she discovered that the DStv decoder was missing and asked some boys who were playing outside if they had seen anyone get into the house.

They told her they saw a prophet in white garments coming from the house carrying the decoder and a bag full of stuff.

She mobilised a group of boys from the area and traced the prophet, whom they caught near Matsotsi beer garden in Lobengula West.

Police were notified and they arrested him.