Prophet ‘kills’ client with poison concoction

Zim Now Writer

A Bulawayo man, Kilason Tshuma, died after allegedly drinking a poisonous concoction he got from a prophet whom he had consulted in a bid to cure an undisclosed ailment, a magistrate heard.

Tshuma, 42, died shortly after allegedly drinking the “cleansing” concoction administered to him by the prophet, Emmanuel Nyoni, 29, who is a member of an Apostolic sect.

Nyoni of Killarney suburb appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate, Collet Ncube facing a culpable homicide charge.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded in custody to September 7 for trial.

Prosecuting, Joseph Rugara said on Monday at around 9am, Tshuma approached Nyoni for spiritual healing.

The prophet allegedly took the deceased to his shrine near Killarney squatter camp where he intended to conduct the cleansing session.

Nyoni administered the poisonous substance to Tshuma soon after arriving at the shrine, the court heard.

“The accused gave the deceased the concoction to drink and soon after consuming the substance, Tshuma started vomiting before he collapsed and died on the spot. Nyoni then took the deceased’s car, a Toyota Runx, and drove out of the shrine,” said Rugara.

Nyoni, the court heard, was involved in an accident, a few metres away from the scene.

“Nyoni was spotted by a passerby reversing the deceased’s car and speeding off the crime scene. He turned right into Bulawayo Drive where he got involved in an accident while fleeing,” said Rugara.

Nyoni was arrested following police investigations and he led detectives to the scene where the deceased’s body was found lying on the ground.

Police found a bottle containing the concoction which was similar to the residue of the substance administered to Tshuma.

Nyoni was also found in possession of the deceased’s cellphone and wallet containing Tshuma’s identity documents.