A 39 year man Lameck Zanji who hails from Mtalimanja Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi has been convicted and sentenced to 3-years imprisonment with hard labour for fraudulently stealing two cellphones and K250, 000 from two women purportedly for rituals.

The Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court heard through state prosecutor Sergeant John Makawa that the two women aged 24 and 30 were on November 7, 2021 coming from the main market when they saw a sign post written “Dr Padiwa Sasewera traditional healer within Mangochi township.

According to Sub Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi, Mangochi Police Public Relations Officer the duo diverted to the place to seek charms of fortune which would help them find good jobs when they get into South Africa.

They met the convict who paused as the herbalist and he demanded a fee of K350,000 cash to their problem.

They paid K250,000 cash and also surrendered their cellphones as top up since they had insufficient cash and agreed to meet the next day for the journey but the victims were shocked not to find him as agreed and also the sign post had been removed.

Zanjo was apprehended on December 17th, 2021 after the matter was reported at Mangochi Police Station by members of the Community policing forum who handed him over to police.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing after appearing in Court and the state paraded three witnesses who proved the case beyond any reasonable doubt.

In mitigation, Zanjo said he is an orphan hence asking for the court’s leniency but prosecutor Makawa justified that such cases are rampant in the district and that the behaviour of the convict could dent the image of traditional healers hence the need for a stiff and custodial sentence.

Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state, hence the 3-year maximum sentence to serve as as a lesson to other would be offenders.