By A Correspondent

A 40-year-old self-proclaimed prophet, Tendai Chikowore, from Chikanga, Mutare, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 3 years suspended, for raping a 31-year-old woman during a prayer session in the bush. The victim had visited Chikowore’s shrine seeking spiritual guidance.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Chikowore instructed the woman to bathe with water and rub her body with ashes in a nearby bush as part of a cleansing ritual. However, he then pushed her down and raped her. When the woman tried to scream for help, Chikowore allegedly “ordered complainant’s voice to mute,” causing her to lose her voice.

Chikowore further exploited the woman’s vulnerability, telling her not to “argue with the Holy Spirit” and that she needed to be cleansed with holy water to regain her voice. The woman remained voiceless even after reporting the incident to the police and had to write down her ordeal.

In a shocking twist, Chikowore attempted to perform rituals to help the woman regain her voice after his arrest.

The court’s sentencing reflects the severity of Chikowore’s crimes, ensuring he will spend 17 years behind bars.