HARARE – A self-proclaimed traditional healer from Southview Park has appeared before the Mbare Magistrates’ Court facing two counts of fraud after allegedly duping two clients out of US$940.

Jabulani Marere (35) claimed he could recover stolen items using magical bees.

He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of US$30.

The case was remanded to September 17.

The first complainant, Kumbulani Zhou (53) of Chitungwa village in Gokwe, approached Marere on July 12, 2025, after losing his iPad in Harare and falling victim to a failed Starlink installation.

The technician responsible had promised to compensate Zhou but vanished without a trace.

Desperate to recover his losses, Zhou paid Marere US$700 for a bee-powered recovery mission.

“The bees will deliver results within two days,” Marere reportedly assured Zhou.

But days turned into weeks, and no bees or stolen goods returned.

Marere became evasive, ignoring calls and growing hostile when confronted.

On August 8, Marere resurfaced, claiming his bees had apprehended the thief.

He demanded an additional US$50 to “finalise the case.”

Zhou sent US$30 via EcoCash and promised to pay the remaining US$20 in person.

However, the individual who came to collect the balance disappeared, and Marere changed his address and stopped answering calls.

Zhou filed a police report after realising he had been conned.

The second complainant, Kudakwashe Gotami of Zvakanaka Store in Kwekwe, also fell victim to Marere’s alleged scam.

After his house was broken into on July 26 and US$120 in cash and clothing stolen, Gotami paid Marere US$160 upfront on July 27, believing the bees would force the thief to confess and return the stolen items.

A week later, Marere contacted Gotami with an update: “The thief is in pain because of the bees,” he claimed, and demanded US$30 more to treat the culprit.

Gotami complied, but when he visited Marere’s house on August 8, the healer had relocated.

An accomplice who was supposed to meet him also disappeared.

According to The Herald, police investigations revealed that Marere had orchestrated an elaborate con, exploiting desperate victims with promises of supernatural intervention.

None of the stolen items were recovered, and the total amount lost by both complainants was US$940.