Gweru Prophet Sentenced for Kidnapping Fuel Attendant

Gweru Prophet Kidnaps Fuel Attendant

A Gweru-based prophet, Chengetai Mudhedye, was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday, March 15, 2024, for kidnapping a female fuel attendant last year. Magistrate Nixon Mangoti suspended one year of the sentence on the condition of good behaviour for the next five years, resulting in a three-year effective jail term.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident occurred on November 12, 2023. Mudhedye approached the victim while she was walking on a footpath, pretending to ask for directions. He then produced an okapi knife, threatened to stab her, and forced her into nearby bushes. Mudhedye claimed to be a prophet and that the victim needed an exorcism. Fortunately, the victim managed to escape and reported the crime to the authorities, leading to Mudhedye’s arrest.

This case highlights the dangers of impersonating religious figures and the importance of victim resilience in reporting such crimes.