Fake sangomas nabbed for car theft

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police is encouraging members of the public to be alert to
fraudsters, who present themselves as self-styled traditional healers while trying to steal their
wealth.
This comes after Pride Mashapa (29) of Westgate, Harare, lost his Toyota vehicle to two fake
sangomas in Musana, Bindura, early last month.
Inspector Milton Mundembe, the Mashonaland Central Province spokesperson said that on 02
January in the evening, Gody Zinyemba (40) of Nyava Village, Chief Musana, and Dickson
Mushonga of an unknown residence, called Mashapa on his mobile number introducing
themselves as traditional healers.
The two had hatched a plan to steal his belongings.
Zinyemba lied to Mashapa that death was very imminent to him and had to visit him as soon
as possible at his shrine in Musana.
The frightened Mashapa drove to the accused person’s place on the same day, where upon
arrival he was told to take his jacket and leave his car for rituals.
He surrendered the car keys to the accused person and returned to Harare.
After three days, Mashapa returned to Zinyemba’s place where he was surprised upon seeing
that both the accused person and his car were missing.
He reported the matter at Bindura Rural ZRP Station and details teamed up to the accused
persons’ place but could not find him and his accomplice.
On 03 February 2023, Mashapa surprisingly received a call from Totamark Motor Car sale
requesting for his vehicle registration book.
He went back to Bindura ZRP station and teamed up with detectives to the car sale, where it
was revealed that the complainant‘s car was sold to the car sale by Mushonga for USD$5200
and had lied that they had bought it from the complainant who had not handed over the
vehicle’s registration book.
The vehicle was recovered and taken to Bindura Rural ZRP where it was held as an exhibit.