The Sunday Mail
Bulawayo Bureau
A BULAWAYO car jacker shocked a packed courtroom when he blasted Prophet Walter Magaya for apparently delivering him from Satanism and destroying his goblins which gave him money, leaving him with no option but to resort to crime.
Honest Sibanda (33) last week appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze facing charges of car jacking, together with his accomplice Freedom Nyathi (24).
His claims were not enough to spare him and his accomplice from eight years’ imprisonment.
Sibanda told the court that Prophetic Healing and Deliverance founder Prophet Magaya made him commit the crime because “he delivered me from the spirit of Satanism.
“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 by 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.
“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.”
His accomplice, Nyathi, said Sibanda was a bad influence.
The two men were sentenced to eight years in jail, though two years were suspended for five years on condition they did not commit any crime involving violence within that period.
The value of the stolen car and property was US$4 121. The US$4 060 vehicle was recovered.
The State, led by Mrs Concilia Ncube, said on October 30, 2015 Slyvester Ncube parked his Toyota Raum taxi at Manor Hotel at the corner of Lobengula Street and Eighth Avenue in Bulawayo.
“Sibanda and Nyathi then approached Ncube and hired him to and from Emakhandeni, purporting they wanted to go and pick up Sibanda’s girlfriend. They promised to pay Ncube US$12 for the service.
“It was proved 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 threatening the driver with death. Sibanda then dragged Ncube to the back seat where he was guarded by Nyathi.”
Sibanda drove the vehicle for about 800m along Masiyephambili Drive towards Victoria Falls Road and parked.
The two men dragged Ncube some 100m into a bush and took US$30, a Nokia X2 mobile phone and his driver’s licence.
They cut Ncube’s T-shirt into strips, which they used to tie his hands and legs.
“They removed Ncube’s trousers and 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,” the State said.
The court heard that Nyathi and Sibanda later proceeded to Kadoma where they tried to sell the stolen vehicle but a prospective buyer became suspicious and alerted police in Eiffel Flats.
The two were arrest and the vehicle was recovered.
The knife used to threaten Ncube was found in the car.
