Danisa Masuku
A SELF-STYLED prophet from Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo has been thrown behind bars for stealing money and cellphones from his clients and neighbours.
Lyton Moyo (38) appeared before Western Commonage Court magistrate Shepherd Mnjanja facing four counts of theft.
Moyo who pleaded not guilty to all counts was convicted after a full trial and sentenced to 34 months in jail.
The court heard that on 23 March, Moyo was invited by one of his clients in Cowdray Park suburb to cleanse an ailing relative.
Moyo went there and reportedly healed him and slept there. The next day he woke up at around 5am and asked for keys to the toilet and he was given the keys by the owner of the house.
The owner of the house remained sleeping and Moyo exploited that opportunity when he took two cellphones and a power bank and disappeared from the house.
On another occasion he went to a house in the same suburb to visit his friend but when he got there his friend wasnโt around.
It is said Moyo started to prophesy to the owner of the house and he was spot on when he revealed to her some of the things that were troubling her.
The owner of the house was convinced and he charged her US$5.
She gave him US$10 saying he should go and look for change but he never came back.
On the third occasion he gathered that his neighbour had gone to the rural areas and he went to his house and smashed a window pane and used a rodย to โfishโ out a handbag that contained US$15 and two bank cards.
On the fourth occasion a woman who stays alone at her house in the suburb left her cellphones on the table. Moyo used a sharp object to open the main door and when he got inside the house he stole a cellphone and US$80.
All the victims reported the incidents to the police and investigations led to his arrest.