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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
TWO self-proclaimed Bulawayo prophets ganged up and strangled their client, a police assistant inspector, in a bushy area where they had taken him to “cleanse him of evil spirits.”

The pair then robbed him of $3,000, a laptop, two smart phones and his car, a Toyota Noah which they later sold in Harare.

Patrick Matikiti, 25, of Sauerstown and Assurance Moyo, 22, of Lobengula West were not asked to plead when they briefly appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya charged with the murder of Nhlalo Ndlovu in December last year.

They were remanded in custody to October 8 and advised to apply to the High Court for bail.

Prosecuting, Nkathazo Dlodlo said on December 10, 2014, shortly after 6.30PM, Matikiti and Moyo were approached by Ndlovu who sought to be cleansed of evil spirits that were allegedly haunting him.

Ndlovu had just arrived from Lupane where he was studying midwifery at St Luke’s Hospital when he sought help from the two alleged prophets.

The court heard that Matikiti and Moyo, who already had information that Ndlovu was carrying cash and some valuables in his car, connived and hatched a plan to rob him of his belongings.

“Matikiti and Moyo then asked Ndlovu to drive to Khami Dam where upon arrival they disembarked before they led him to a nearby bush where they purportedly intended to conduct a cleansing ceremony to drive away the evil spirits,” said Dlodlo.

The court heard that the two men manhandled the cop and choked him using a piece of cloth from their garments.

They robbed him of $3,000, a Toshiba laptop, two smart phones, his police ID card and car and left his body in the bush. The two drove to Harare where they sold the car.

Prosecutors said the arrest of the two men follows crime scene evidence generated from samples taken from Ndlovu’s remains which were discovered near Khami Dam.

The arrest was based on a strong suspicion following a report by relatives that Ndlovu was last seen when he visited Matikiti’s home for consultation.

Prosecutors said Ndlovu’s bone, tooth and toothbrush were taken to the Nust Applied Genetic Testing Centre for DNA profiling and the samples matched the police officer’s identity after another paternity test was conducted on the cop’s son and sister.

When police searched Matikiti’s house they found Ndlovu’s police ID. The two men then led police to the scene of the crime for indications where the other stolen goods were recovered.