Murder suspects collect cop's footprint soil

In an incident of suspected witchcraft which left police officers at a Bulawayo station numb with fear, a suspected murderer was arrested after he allegedly took soil from footprints of a police officer who was investigating his case.

The black magic practice which was reportedly conducted at the instigation of a prophet was presumably to conjure supernatural powers to get rid of the murder case.

Circumstances to the incident which sounds like an extract from one of Harry Potter's scripts were played out on 25 July after Thabani Magise (33) who was in the company of his uncle Mafukidze Muruve (44) went to Hillside Police Station for routine report. Magise of No. 14675 Ithaka Rd, Selborne park, one of Bulawayo's up-market suburbs, who is facing murder charges was arrested after he allegedly fatally assaulted a suspected thief at his house sometime in June this year.

He is out of custody after being granted bail pending the finalisation of the case which is being investigated by Sergeant Phibion Dzindikwa, attached to investigation department at Hillside Police Station.

It is alleged that Magise sought the services of a prophet. After consulting the prophet, Magise was told that if he wanted to exorcise the avenging spirit and subsequently get rid of his murder charges he should bring soil from the investigating officer's footprints for a 'massive' cleansing ceremony. Acting on a command from his supposed jail liberator, Magise, who was accompanied to the police station by his uncle Muruvi, reported to Sgnt Dzindikwa and allegedly hatched a plan on how to get a 'magic' for his ritual cleansing.

It is further alleged that Magise who was standing outside purportedly called Sgnt Dzindikwa to come to him saying he wanted assistance but the seemingly suspicious Sgnt Dzindikwa instructed him to come to the office. Magise refused to go to the office as well. Fortunately for him as he was still pondering for the next move following the failure of the first one, Sgnt Dzindikwa reportedly went outside and passed through Magise and his uncle is alleged to have joyously embraced him saying he earnestly needed his help.

It is reported that Magise and his uncle then fetched a handful of soil from his footprints and put it in a plastic bag which he then hid in the pockets of his jacket. While committing the offence, the two were being closely monitored by one police officer, Constable Dhiko who then alerted his colleague. Upon searching them, them a plastic bag containing soil was found and the duo got arrested.

Murivi allegedly implicated Magise saying he wanted to use the soil for his ritual purposes. For the offence, the two were arraigned before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja facing charges of engaging in practices commonly associated with witchcraft. They denied the charges and were remanded out of custody on a further $50 bail each.

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