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- Jul 15, 2010
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Witchdoctor sent to prison for duping Mugabe
FILE | NATION Witchdoctor Mavhunga splashes ministers with diesel. She was jailed for misleading the Cabinet.
By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION Correspondent
HARARE
A witchdoctor who misled Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabes entire Cabinet into
believing that petroleum was oozing from a rock
has been jailed for 27 months.
President Mugabe went to the extent of setting
up a Cabinet committee to investigate how the
country could benefit from the discovery after
Rottina Mavhunga claimed to have discovered
refined diesel at a mountainous area.
Mavhunga hosted several ministerial delegations
at her shrine and was paid thousands of dollars
as she sent the government on a wild goose
chase. She cleverly exploited a fuel shortage that
had gripped Zimbabwe for more than five years.
A magistrate in Chinhoyi, about 100km from
Harare, said the witchdoctor deserved a
custodial sentence as the government had
channelled money to her fake project and which
was now lost.
The court cannot be faulted for saying that the
offences were premeditated and diligently
executed.
Many people became gullible owing to the crisis
the country was under and accepted an unknown
phenomenon.
The accused lied to the nation for self-
actualisation and personal benefit. Your trickery
brought despondency in the nation during a dry
period, the magistrate said while passing
sentence.
Mavhunga blamed the diesel claim on spirit
possession. She said she does not know if the
diesel exists.
The government later discovered that Mavhunga
and her accomplices were drawing diesel from
tanks left by a white commercial farmer who lost
his farm during President Mugabes controversial
land reforms.
Mugabes close ally and Zimbabwes registrar-
general, Mr Tobaiwa Mudede, who allegedly
sheltered Mavhunga when she was being sought
by police, was also criticised.
Mavhunga faces another charge after she
allegedly exchanged a stone weighing 18kg,
claiming it was gold, for a cow.
By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION Correspondent
HARARE
A witchdoctor who misled Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabes entire Cabinet into
believing that petroleum was oozing from a rock
has been jailed for 27 months.
President Mugabe went to the extent of setting
up a Cabinet committee to investigate how the
country could benefit from the discovery after
Rottina Mavhunga claimed to have discovered
refined diesel at a mountainous area.
Mavhunga hosted several ministerial delegations
at her shrine and was paid thousands of dollars
as she sent the government on a wild goose
chase. She cleverly exploited a fuel shortage that
had gripped Zimbabwe for more than five years.
A magistrate in Chinhoyi, about 100km from
Harare, said the witchdoctor deserved a
custodial sentence as the government had
channelled money to her fake project and which
was now lost.
The court cannot be faulted for saying that the
offences were premeditated and diligently
executed.
Many people became gullible owing to the crisis
the country was under and accepted an unknown
phenomenon.
The accused lied to the nation for self-
actualisation and personal benefit. Your trickery
brought despondency in the nation during a dry
period, the magistrate said while passing
sentence.
Mavhunga blamed the diesel claim on spirit
possession. She said she does not know if the
diesel exists.
The government later discovered that Mavhunga
and her accomplices were drawing diesel from
tanks left by a white commercial farmer who lost
his farm during President Mugabes controversial
land reforms.
Mugabes close ally and Zimbabwes registrar-
general, Mr Tobaiwa Mudede, who allegedly
sheltered Mavhunga when she was being sought
by police, was also criticised.
Mavhunga faces another charge after she
allegedly exchanged a stone weighing 18kg,
claiming it was gold, for a cow.
