RUSAPE: A self-styled Buhera prophet has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for sodomising a follower.

Maxwell Charamba, 43, of Buhera under Chief Makumbe denied sodomy charges when he appeared before magistrate Livingstone Chipadza but was convicted due to the overwhelming evidence.

In his defence, Charamba blamed the devil.

“Your Worship, I was overpowered by the devil and could not control myself,” he said.

Charamba will however, serve an effective 15-year jail term after the court suspended three years on conditions.

Magistrate Chipadze found him guilty of sodomising a Dorowa youth aged 18.

The court was told that on July 28 this year, Charamba visited the complainant’s home and arranged that a healing session be conducted at Save River.

Charamba went to the river with the complainant where he grabbed her on the neck and sodomised her once.

Hading down sentence, magistrate Chipadze told Charamba he was a false prophet who had the intention of sodomising the teen.

Tirivanhu Mutyasira prosecuted.