A SELF-PROCLAIMED Rushinga prophet, Ezekiel Mudzinedombo, appeared at the High Court yesterday facing charges of killing his client, Felix Chigumbe, by allegedly lacing his food with poison in a bid to fulfil his earlier prophecy that the latter would die for failing to pay a beast charged for services rendered.
BY CHARLES LAITON
Mudzinedombo, however, denied the charge telling Justice Chinembiri Bhunu that Chigumbe could have been poisoned at the political gathering which he attended after the cleansing ceremony.
The alleged incident occurred on March 7 this year at Thornhill Estate in Mt Darwin.
Mudzinedombo (33), of Kamuriwo Village under Chief Rusambo in Rushinga, yesterday appeared in court seeking bail pending trial, but his application was deferred to tomorrow after the judge declined to grant the application by consent asking both parties to address the court regarding police concerns over interference.
Allegations levelled against Mudzinedombo are that on March 5 this year, he performed rituals at Chigumbe’s home where he pretended to have removed some snakes that were causing misfortunes to his family.
After the act, he allegedly charged Chigumbe a beast for the services, but the latter failed to pay, prompting Mudzinedombo to falsely prophesy that Chigumbe would die.
The following day, Chigumbe and his family went for a morning prayer, but Mudzinedombo remained behind at the house alone during which time he allegedly laced Chigumbe’s food with poison, leading to his death.
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However, in his defence, Mudzinedombo denied lacing Chigumbe’s food with poison, saying the latter could have been poisoned at a political gathering.
“On the day in question, accused said he had a prayer with the now deceased (Chigumbe) and his wife before they all retired to bed in their respective rooms after agreeing that the three of them would fast the following day to seek God’s grace as the deceased was facing a myriad of challenges which included pending criminal and civil cases at Mt Darwin Magistrates’ Court,” Mudzinedombo’s lawyer Simbarashe Ganya said.
“However, the following morning, the 6th, the deceased . . . had breakfast together (with the accused) (and later) proceeded to Dotito to attend a political function.
“Chances are that the deceased could have been poisoned at the political gathering as opposed to the suggested poisoning by the accused who did not even attend the said gathering.” Purity Chikangaise appeared for the State.
