Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
BULAWAYO socialite Babongile Sikhonjwa was behind bars last night after he was arrested on bizarre charges of stealing ANOINTING OIL from the popular preacher, Prophet Blessing Chiza.Sikhonjwa, a popular event emcee, comedian and club DJ, was arrested in Nkulumane suburb late yesterday by CID detectives investigating the theft of 500 small bottles of the oil which Prophet Chiza told followers was a “yoke destroyer” and could “change your life.”
Wearing gray track bottoms, trainers and a green jacket, Sikhonjwa arrived at the Bulawayo Central Police Station yesterday evening flanked by two CID detectives for his booking.
His friend and fellow comedian, Clive Chigubhu, arrived minutes later but was not allowed to see him.
Chigubhu told The Chronicle: “From what I’ve been told he has been arrested over the alleged theft of anointing oil from Chiza’s church at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds on Sunday.
“Sikhonjwa has spoken in the past about wanting to be the first nationally-recognised Ndebele prosperity gospel preacher. In fact he joked that I could join him as a pastor. But would he go to these lengths to live his dream? It sounds preposterous to be honest, we’ll hear in court tomorrow or Tuesday what they’re charging him with.”
Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, the Bulawayo Police spokesperson, last night said he was out of his office and would only be able to respond to our inquiries today.
Thousands of people turned up at the ZITF Hall 1 on Sunday for Prophet Chiza’s crusade dubbed, “Bulawayo Anointing Oil Mega Sunday – Releasing the Yoke Destroyer”. In advance publicity adverts, Chiza said: “One drop of oil can change your life because of the anointing. Only believe!”
The “anointing oil”, contained in 25ml bottles, was sold for $10 as a package which also included a wrist band and DVD.
Thousands of the small bottles would have been brought to the service, but by the end of the crusade, ushers failed to account for 500 bottles, a church insider said.
Police sources told The Chronicle that they were investigating claims that Sikhonjwa and a second man, who has not been identified, backed up at the hall’s back entrance in a Range Rover which is almost identical to Chiza’s and misrepresented to ushers that the preacher had asked them to collect the left-over “anointing oil”.
The ushers loaded the bottles valued at $5,000 into the boot and the comedian sped off.
Sikhonjwa was arrested at Sekusile Shopping Centre in Nkulumane, it is alleged while selling the oil for $2 per bottle. His luck ran out, it is claimed, after trying to sell the oil to a member of Chiza’s Eagle Life Assembly who had heard of the theft. She called the police.
Prophet Chiza was said to be in prayer last night. One of his aides promised that he would return the call but he had not done so by the time of going to print. Chronicle.
BULAWAYO socialite Babongile Sikhonjwa was behind bars last night after he was arrested on bizarre charges of stealing ANOINTING OIL from the popular preacher, Prophet Blessing Chiza.Sikhonjwa, a popular event emcee, comedian and club DJ, was arrested in Nkulumane suburb late yesterday by CID detectives investigating the theft of 500 small bottles of the oil which Prophet Chiza told followers was a “yoke destroyer” and could “change your life.”
Wearing gray track bottoms, trainers and a green jacket, Sikhonjwa arrived at the Bulawayo Central Police Station yesterday evening flanked by two CID detectives for his booking.
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| Sikhonjwa arrest over Prophet Chiza oil theft. |
Chigubhu told The Chronicle: “From what I’ve been told he has been arrested over the alleged theft of anointing oil from Chiza’s church at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds on Sunday.
“Sikhonjwa has spoken in the past about wanting to be the first nationally-recognised Ndebele prosperity gospel preacher. In fact he joked that I could join him as a pastor. But would he go to these lengths to live his dream? It sounds preposterous to be honest, we’ll hear in court tomorrow or Tuesday what they’re charging him with.”
Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo, the Bulawayo Police spokesperson, last night said he was out of his office and would only be able to respond to our inquiries today.
Thousands of people turned up at the ZITF Hall 1 on Sunday for Prophet Chiza’s crusade dubbed, “Bulawayo Anointing Oil Mega Sunday – Releasing the Yoke Destroyer”. In advance publicity adverts, Chiza said: “One drop of oil can change your life because of the anointing. Only believe!”
The “anointing oil”, contained in 25ml bottles, was sold for $10 as a package which also included a wrist band and DVD.
Thousands of the small bottles would have been brought to the service, but by the end of the crusade, ushers failed to account for 500 bottles, a church insider said.
Police sources told The Chronicle that they were investigating claims that Sikhonjwa and a second man, who has not been identified, backed up at the hall’s back entrance in a Range Rover which is almost identical to Chiza’s and misrepresented to ushers that the preacher had asked them to collect the left-over “anointing oil”.
The ushers loaded the bottles valued at $5,000 into the boot and the comedian sped off.
Sikhonjwa was arrested at Sekusile Shopping Centre in Nkulumane, it is alleged while selling the oil for $2 per bottle. His luck ran out, it is claimed, after trying to sell the oil to a member of Chiza’s Eagle Life Assembly who had heard of the theft. She called the police.
Prophet Chiza was said to be in prayer last night. One of his aides promised that he would return the call but he had not done so by the time of going to print. Chronicle.
