A self-styled Mhangura prophet has been jailed 36 months for illegally possessing a two-metre-long African rock python he used for faking miracles.
Chisu Bhunu, 31, of Binje Farm appeared before Chinhoyi provincial magistrate Tapiwa Banda charged with “found in possession of specially protected animal species without a permit.”
He was sentenced to 36 months in prison, six months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Bhunu will serve an effective 30 months in prison.
The State represented by Review Nikisi proved that on May 3 this year Bhunu, who is also a member of the Bible Fellowship Apostolic Ministry, was approached by Farai Makumbi who was seeking prophetic healing for his sick wife, Neria Makumbi.
It was the State’s case that on the same date, at around 8 pm, Bhunu went to Makumbi’s homestead to perform a healing session for the ailing woman. Bhunu was carrying on his back a black traveller’s bag.
As he got into his would-be clients’ yard, the ‘prophet’ took out a green sack containing the snake from the bag before placing it outside the house.
However, two family members, Takemore Chando and Edmore Revesai spotted Bhunu hiding the sack and confronted him over the suspicious luggage.
It is the state’s case that after failing to give a satisfactory answer, Bhunu took to his heels from the scene and vanished into the darkness, leaving his ‘tools of the trade.’
The following morning, Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority game rangers were alerted of the python.
Reports indicate that acting upon the tip-off, the rangers arrested Bhunu who indicated to police how he duped people performing fake miracles using the python.
The endangered snake species is valued at US$5 000.
