A suspected fake prophet appeared before a Harare magistrate on Friday facing allegations of raping a 26-year-old woman from Epworth.

Tobias Dospani (40), was denied bail when he appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.

Dospani was advised to approach the High Court for bail and he will be back in court on August 23.

Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that on July 14 this year, the complainant and her sister went to Dospani shrine for prayers.

According to court papers, Dospani requested to visit the complainant's house for more prayers around midnight. At around midnight, the two conducted prayer and went back to sleep. Around 1am, Dospani went to the complainant's bedroom and made advances demanding sex as payment for the prayers. Dospani jumped into her bed and started fondling the complainant and later had sexual intercourse without her consent.

The suspected fake prophet later ran away.

The matter was reported to the police leading to his arrest.