Convicted rapist Bhobhi Makaza (60) could not hide his excitement as he emerged from the gates of a Harare prison as he described President Emmerson Mnangagwa as honey after he was granted amnesty together with thousands of other prisoners.
Makaza, who was released from prison after Mnangagwa’s amnesty last month, said his imprisonment had been foretold by a prophet at the Johanne Masowe WeChishanu sect some two years before his arrest.
He was arrested in 2019 for raping his then 11-year-old niece.
Makaza is the man behind the Mnangagwa huchi challenge, which went viral as he celebrated his release from prison, showering the president with praises for taking him away from prison before the end of his term.
Makaza, affectionately known as Bhobhi in his village, was released from Chikurubi Maximum Prison after serving only a quarter of his 18-year sentence.
“Haa Mnangagwa huchi baba (Mnangagwa is honey my friend),” Bhobhi said as soon as he tasted freedom while inside a Zupco bus.
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“Huchi murume uyu, chaihwo chaiwo (The man is honey, real honey”.
The Mnangagwa huchi clip went viral on the online platforms run by mainstream media before exploding on Tik Tok, WhatsApp and Instagram, as social media users imitated the over-the-moon Makaza.
Back home in Mairosi village, some 15km from Murewa centre, friends and relatives only got to know that Bhobhi had been released from jail after a relative based in South Africa forwarded to them the Mnangagwa ‘huchi’ clip.
Indeed, what can be sweeter than honey, than being spared 11 years behind the bars of the country’s most notorious prison?
Bhobhi’s Mnangagwa huchi compliment sparked outrage among many Zimbabweans not because they disapproved of the presidential amnesty, but because he was a prisoner who had been pardoned for serving a rape sentence.
About 4 300 prisoners, among them rapists and other dangerous criminals, were released under Mnangagwa’s orders late last month.
Under the Clemency Order 1 of 2023, prisoners serving rape sentences were excluded from benefiting from the amnesty.
Bhobhi qualified for amnesty through the clemency clause of remission for all prisoners aged 60 and above, who had served a tenth of their sentence by April 18, 2023, regardless of the offences they committed except for those serving life or death sentences or those convicted of public violence.
Child and women’s rights activists are fretting over the surge in rape cases and they say the release of rape convicts came as a blow to the fight against sexual crimes.
Amid all the disgruntlement and disapproval of his release, what kind of reception did Bhobhi get from his home area?
Last week, The Standard caught up with Bhobhi who arrived in his home village in Murewa on May 28.
Heroes’ welcome
Ex-offenders often face stigma, discrimination and resentment after release from prison.
But for Bhobhi, as he stepped into Mairosi village, his was a grand entrance, he claimed.
“I suffered a swollen shoulder from hugs that I received from my folks,” Bhobhi told The Standard, revealing his comic character.
It took Bhobhi almost a day to walk from Duku shopping centre where he was dropped off from Harare to get to his home.
“They missed me so much, no doubt,” he said.
“All of them had so many questions, which I could not answer, as I had just arrived.
“I also had lots of questions for them.
“But even now, I still need more time to catch up with my people.
“Some were born, others died in the four years that I was locked up.”
Bhobhi was serving as a security guard at Kambarami High School in his home area at the time of his arrest.
His long-time friend, Angela Rapanganwa and a fellow congregant of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic told The Standard: “I kept giving him hope that he would be released, It is not surprising at all because it had been foretold by a prophet at church.”
“He has lost a lot.
“He no longer has a home, but he is not homeless.
“Munhu wevanhu (He is a likable person) Many have opened doors for him.
“He is a cheerful man and though he committed a crime, he does not become an outcast.”
A jovial Bhobhi would burst into laughter throughout the interview with The Standard, except when he spoke about his lost life over the four years he was in jail.
Catching up
The four years he spent in jail robbed him of his home.
What remains of his five-structured home is just a derelict, isolated hut.
Inside the hut is nothing but the remains of what used to be a lively home, which reminds him of shattered hopes and dreams.
The four years in jail destroyed his family.
His 27-year-old wife could not bear the prospects of 16 years staying alone and eloped with another man in the village.
“I learnt a lot in prison,” Bhobhi said.
“I survived with hope that one day I will be released.
“It taught me forgiveness and perseverance, but the greatest of all that crime does not pay.
“However, as I was behind bars I saw inmates who had been released after serving their full jail terms, coming back after committing other crimes.
“Pity that they were coming back after committing silly offenses.
“The filthy confinement of Chikurubi is not enjoyable at all. I will never take chances of committing a crime again.”
Police last week said at least 15 of the pardoned prisoners had been arrested for various offenses such as murder and armed robbery.
Analysts say the prevailing economic hardships force people to commit crimes as they have no means of survival.
Some are not accepted in their communities and end up getting involved in crimes because they have nowhere to go.
“Jail life is survival of the fittest,” said Bhobhi.
“We had to adopt strategies of resistance to hunger and deprivation of human dignity that we faced on a daily basis at the prison.”
Isaac Mumvuma, who is village head Mairosi, said even though he encouraged community members to engage in dialogue when they had wronged each other, there was a need for the law to take its course to deter crimes.
“We are a community and as community members we like each other,” Mumvuma said.
“When we have problems we resolve our issues amicably, but not on crime.
“We can’t conceal the crime. Justice should take its own course.
“That is why I always encourage my people to report serious matters to the police.
“I preside over some minor issues. But no matter how loyal my subject can be, I can’t conceal the crime.”
Death rumours
The Mnangagwa huchi craze was followed by the news that Bhobhi had died.
It started with a Twitter post, accompanied by his picture, as he waved through the window of a bus that took him from prison on the day of the amnesty.
Before The Standard inquired whether he was indeed dead or not, he had already sent a WhatsApp voice note to this reporter.
“I am hearing that I am dead. I am not,” Bhobhi said.
“I am receiving overwhelming inquiries on whether I am indeed dead. I am doing well. Why are people wishing me dead?”
Life goes on
Even without a wife, without a home, and separated from his children, Bhobhi has to live on.
He wants to restart his own life without being a burden to his loved ones.
He is staying at his brother’s home.
“I can’t say I have to start afresh,” he said.
“What’s there to start at this age?
“I have lost so much, but I have to keep living.
“At least I did not get to miss any election in the country. I just got home almost on time.”