A 50-year-old man, accused of masquerading as a prophet to swindle a client out of more than half a million Pula, was arraigned before the Francistown Magistrate’s Court this Tuesday.
Bakhulumi Mduluchwa, a resident of Shashe Mooke, stands accused of defrauding Bious Segole of P571,200 on July 7, 2023, in Makobo village. Police arrested Mduluchwa on Monday night following a three-year manhunt. His alleged accomplice remains at large.
The prosecution alleges that Mduluchwa and his partner convinced Segole that ancestors had warned of his impending death. They reportedly claimed the only way to survive was to pay for a “cleansing” to appease his forefathers.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Thapelo Buang, Mduluchwa denied being a prophet, claiming instead to be a simple hawker at the Francistown bus rank. He further argued that he was not evading the law but was “running for his life.”
“The complainant was threatening me. He once came to my house with a gun and tried to kill me,” Mduluchwa claimed in court. “I fled to my mother’s lands because he wanted my blood. My wife and children witnessed this, but the police did nothing.”
State Prosecutor Moatlhodi Macheng successfully applied for Mduluchwa to be remanded in custody, labeling him a significant flight risk.
“The suspect has been ducking and diving for almost three years. Police had to publish his picture on social media to seek public assistance,” Macheng told the court. He added that investigations are ongoing to determine if the stolen funds were used to acquire properties that could be confiscated.
In a final plea for bail, Mduluchwa claimed he was currently in negotiations with the complainant to repay the money. “Me being behind bars will derail the discussions. My Worship, we are talking about money here,” he pleaded.
Magistrate Buang denied the request, remanding the accused in custody. Mduluchwa’s scheduled to return to court for a status update on March 23, 2027.
