Trial date for one of the two bogus witch hunters who promised to assist an Insuza villager recover his six cattle that were stolen through conducting rituals and later charged him two beasts has been set for October 12.
Thulani Mpofu (35) was not asked to plead to the fraud charge when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya.
While his alleged accomplice identified as Dameck Skuza is still at large.
The court heard that on July 30 2015 at 4pm, Mpofu was with Skuza who purported to be a witch hunter when they approached the complainant Owen Mabaleka (65) at his home and promised to use their spiritual powers to solve the problems he faced. On July 31 at 8am the two performed rituals and during the rituals they promised Mabaleka that they were going to assist him recover his six herds of cattle that were stolen years ago.
They demanded payment in form of two beasts for the rituals and Mabaleka gave them the two cattle. It is the state case that the two left the area with the two cattle and promised to come back on August 3 but could not.
On August 17 Mpofu went to Mabaleka’s home in the company of one Mduduzi Nxumalo a different witch hunter. The six cattle had not been recovered while the two had collected two heifers worthy $500 each from him. Mabaleka reported the matter to the police leading to Mpofu’s arrest while Skuza is still at large.