Harare self-proclaimed prophet, Talent Madungwe, is facing a significant legal setback following a ruling in the Epworth Magistrates’ Court. The court sentenced Madungwe to a total of ten months imprisonment, though a significant portion of the sentence is suspended, contingent upon community service.
The charges stemmed from a road traffic incident on August 6th, 2024, where Madungwe was involved in a minor collision while driving his Toyota Aqua.
The magistrate handed down a wholly suspended four-month prison sentence for driving without a valid licence. This was coupled with a six-month sentence for negligent driving; however, three months of this sentence were also suspended for a period of five years. The remaining three months of the negligent driving sentence are suspended on the condition that Madungwe completes 105 hours of community service.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) detailed the events leading to the charges on X, stating: “Prophet Talent Madungwe (38) from Hatfield, in Harare, was brought before the Epworth Magistrates’ Court facing 2 counts of contravening the Road Traffic Act i.e. driving without a valid licence and negligent driving.
“On the 6th of August 2024, at around 1020 hours, the accused person was driving a Toyota Aqua out of his home turning right and he side-swiped a Nissan NP300 single cab along a strip road next to Airport road coming from the south heading towards Harare CBD. The vehicle sustained minor damage on the load box. The accused person was driving without a valid licence. Madungwe was remanded to the 9th of October for sentencing,” the statement read.
The court’s finding that Madungwe was driving without a valid licence at the time of the accident directly contradicts earlier reports and raises questions about his adherence to Chivayo’s stipulations.
This legal outcome is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Madungwe. Shortly after receiving the vehicle, he faced eviction for unpaid rent, owing four months’ rent to his landlady, Gogo Manyonga.
He attributed his financial difficulties to spiritual attacks, stating: “Things have not been well for me since September last year… I am being attacked by the Devil because of preaching the Word, and a number of enemies are after my downfall, but I will not give up.”
Despite this explanation, a well-wisher eventually intervened to settle his outstanding rent.
The combined impact of the driving offences and the earlier rent dispute continues to fuel public discussion and debate surrounding Madungwe’s public persona and the management of his personal affairs.
