Carjacker blames Prophet Magaya

By Tatenda Gapare

A BULAWAYO carjacker shocked a packed courtroom when he blasted Prophet Walter Magaya for allegedly delivering him from satanism and destroying his goblins which gave him money, hence leaving him with no choice but to resort to crime.

Honest Sibanda (33) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze facing a charge of carjacking together with his accomplice Freedom Nyathi (24) last week.

Sibanda told the court that Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) founder and leader Prophet Magaya made him commit the crime because “he delivered me from the spirit of satanism”. He said after surrendering his goblins and all satanic tools, he was left poor and so stealing cars was a means of survival.

“I was a satanist spreading the word of satanism. I had goblins in my house and they used to bring me a lot of money so I was rich at that time. Prophet Magaya delivered me from the kingdom of darkness and I surrendered all the money and goblins; right now I do not have any money and the property that I own I got it from satanism.

“May the courts consider that Prophet Magaya said because I had surrendered all my satanist stuff, I would suffer as the devil wants me to die. I am poor, I suffered a lot and sometimes I could not sleep well or wake up. Due to these circumstances I was forced to steal a car in order for me to survive,” he said.

Sibanda said his wife, whom he married in South Africa, was supposed to come for deliverance but she did not attend hence she might be the reason why he hears a voice from the devil.

“My wife did not come for exorcism. I have a cobra (shaped) walking stick and sometimes I hear voices from it saying the exorcism must not be completed. I did not want to commit this crime but it was a temptation since Prophet Magaya banned me from using goblins to get money,” he said.

His accomplice, Nyathi, blamed Sibanda, for being a bad influence.

The two men were convicted and sentenced to eight years in jail. Two years were suspended for five years on condition that the two do not within that period commit any crime involving violence. The value of the stolen car and property was $4 121 and the vehicle worth $ 4 060 was recovered.

Prosecuting, Mrs Concilia Ncube said on 30 October 2015 Slyvester Ncube parked his white motor vehicle, a Toyota Raum, at Manor Hotel at the corner of Lobengula Street and Eighth Avenue.

“Sibanda and Nyathi then approached Ncube and hired him to take them to and from Emakhandeni, purporting they wanted to go and fetch Sibanda’s girlfriend. They promised to pay him $12 and Ncube drove along Luveve Road,” she said.

It is alleged that when Ncube approached the Masiyephambili Drive fly over he was ordered by Sibanda to park the car as they had arrived.

“Sibanda immediately grabbed Ncube’s neck, pressing him against the driver’s seat while Nyathi produced a knife which he pointed to the driver’s neck. Sibanda then dragged Ncube to the back seat where he was guarded by Nyathi.

“Sibanda started the car and drove about 800 metres along Masiyephambili Drive heading towards Victoria Falls Road and parked off the road. The two men dragged Ncube into a bush for about 100 metres from the vehicle and took away $30 from him, a Nokia X2 mobile phone and his driver’s licence,” said Mrs Ncube.

Mrs Ncube told the court that the two men cut Ncube’s t-shirt into strips which they used to tie his hands and legs.

“They removed Ncube’s trousers and tied it around his head to blindfold him. They drove away and left him lying face down, naked. Ncube managed to untie himself after about 30 minutes and he reported the matter at Luveve Police Station,” she said.

The court heard that the two men proceeded to Kadoma where they went about trying to sell the stolen vehicle.

“A suspicious prospective buyer alerted the police at ZRP Kadoma Eiffel Flats resulting in the two men’s arrest and recovery of the stolen car. The knife used to threaten Ncube was found in the car; the two men were brought to Bulawayo where they appeared in court,” said Mrs Ncube.

The two men complained in court saying they were assaulted by police officers in Kadoma. Nyathi allegedly said he was feeling pain in his private parts while Sibanda had a broken joint. Sunday News