MWENEZI – A well-known self-styled prophet of the Jowani Masowe eChishanu, Benjamin Matiza (38), popularly known as Madzibaba Bhenji, is in trouble with the law after he allegedly followed a 14-year-old girl to the bush and raped her.
Matiza, of no fixed residential address, appeared before magistrate Honest Musiiwa and was remanded in custody before being formally charged.
The prophet had of late become a crowd puller, attracting many people desperate for spiritual help to his camp at Mariot Ranch under Chief Chitanga.
In July this year, Matiza visited Village 3, Mariot Ranch where a close relative stays and set up camp there to do his prophesy work.
On August 14, he saw a girl, who is doing form two at a local school and who he had earlier on visited his place in the company of her parents for spiritual help.
The minor was going to fetch some firewood in the bush.
Matiza then followed the girl into the bush, told her he wanted to cast some remaining demons from her stomach but the girl refused.
The self-styled prophet, however, persisted and allegedly began to fondle the girl all over her body, undressed and then raped her.
He allegedly ordered her not to tell anybody about what had happened but the girl revealed everything to her mother when she returned home.
A police report was then made, leading to the suspect’s arrest.court
