The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Weekender Correspondent
A SELF-PROCLAIMED prophet who was working in cahoots with a Chikanga traditional healer to dupe unsuspecting clients was recently exposed after he tried to trick a couple into paying US$1 500.
The couple – Mike Nyaboko and Memory Mangezi – last month sought the assistance of Madzibaba Pardon in Chikanga Phase Two as Mangezi was suffering from constant seizures and a mild stroke.
Madzibaba Pardon told the couple that he would assist them in a week before a traditional healer, Tickden Khumbureya, popularly known as Sekuru Washy, called them demanding that they visit his shrine for healing.
The Weekender is in possession of a recording of a phone call between Sekuru Washy and Mangezi, with the former asking the latter to visit his shrine if she wanted deliverance.
Mangezi and her husband then proceeded to the shrine in Chikanga.
“When we were still at Madzibaba Pardon’s shrine, we were joined by other congregants. He prophesied how my wife was feeling and we were shocked because everything he said was true.
Boniferi
“He, however, dismissed us saying something would happen during the week. We left and the following day, Sekuru Washy called us saying he wanted to help us. We do not know how these guys are linked and we smelt a rat. Sekuru Washy said he wanted to ‘save’ us from an enemy who wanted to kill us. He demanded US$1 500 from us.
“However when we went to his place, Sekuru Washy was hiding behind a black cloth. The room was dark. Bonferi, Sekuru Washy’s translator, would translate what he was saying.
“After about 30 minutes of endless demands for money, we were kicked out of the room, with Sekuru Washy saying he would only entertain us after paying the money,” Nyaboko told The Weekender.
He added: “On June 1, Sekuru Washy started nagging us over the phone demanding money. We told him that we only had US$500. He sent someone who identified himself as a businessman to collect the money. We met near a local hotel and asked him to accompany us to the police for them to act as witnesses of the transaction. He, however, refused and drove away.”
Last Friday morning, Nyaboko teamed up with his friends, Elijah Sibanda and Kelvin Chikuni, to ambush Madzibaba Pardon at his Chikanga shrine.
The Weekender spent close to three hours in the company of trio waiting for Madzibaba Pardon’s arrival, but he never showed up.
Incessant efforts to contact him on his mobile phone proved fruitless.
“They continued nagging us until we decided to trap Madzibaba Pardon, Sekuru Washy and Bonferi. We went to Sekuru Washy’s place around 5am and told him that we had brought the money he was asking for.
“He appeared shocked and we then confronted him about where he had got my wife’s cellphone number. He was evasive on that issue but ended up confessing that he had been referred to us by Madzibaba Pardon. They were supposed to share the loot,” said Nyaboko.
Sekuru Washy told The Weekender that although he was expecting a share of the spoils from Madzibaba Pardon, he was not aware that it was a scam.
“Madzibaba Pardon told me that some people had visited his shrine seeking spiritual assistance. He gave me their contact numbers and asked me to meet them and use the information they had told him so that we could get more money.
“Madzibaba promised to give me an undisclosed amount of money once it was all done. I am sorry about this and I pray for forgiveness,” said Sekuru Washy.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Norbert Muzondo said although he was yet to get a report of the matter, people should be wary of fake prophets and fake traditional healers.
