Villager loses 2 beasts to bogus witch hunters

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TWO bogus witch hunters defrauded two beasts from an Insuza villager, who was duped into believing that he would recover his stolen livestock through some rituals.

TWO bogus witch hunters defrauded two beasts from an Insuza villager, who was duped into believing that he would recover his stolen livestock through some rituals.

BY SILAS NKALA

This was heard by Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya when one of the suspects Thulani Mpofu (35) appeared before him charged with fraud.

The magistrate remanded him in custody to October 6. His alleged accomplice identified as Dameck Skuza is still at large.

The court heard that on July 30 2015 around 4pm, Mpofu was with Skuza who purported to be a witch hunter when they approached the complainant Owen Mabaleka (65) at his home and promised to use their purported spiritual powers to solve the problems he faced.

On July 31 at 8am the two performed “rituals” and promised Mabaleka that they were going to assist him recover his six cattle that were stolen years back.

They demanded payment in the form of two beasts and Mabaleka complied. It is the State case that the two left the area with the two cattle and promised to come back on August 3, but did not.

On August 17 Mpofu went to Mabaleka’s home in the company of one Mduduzi Nxumalo, a different witch hunter. The six cattle had not been recovered while the two had collected two heifers worth $500 each from him. Mabaleka reported the matter to the police, leading to Mpofu’s arrest while Skuza is still at large.