Botswana police investigating what they thought were human body parts found the object was a fake penis-like item after forensic testing.
Police allege that a 28-year-old Zimbabwean man used objects resembling male genitalia to convince clients he had supernatural powers and to sell solutions for spiritual and personal problems.
It Started With A Tip
According to the Botswana Police Service, Nyasha Mudzongeri, 28, was arrested at Shashe Mooke near Francistown on 13 September after police received a tip-off.
At his September 15 court appearance before Principal Magistrate Ditebogo Ntuli, authorities handled the case as an investigation into suspected human body parts.
Court reports identified the items as suspected male genitalia. Police further accused Mudzongeri of entering Botswana through an unauthorised point of entry.
Mudzongeri told the court he intended to clear his name and would not abscond.
The exhibit was submitted for forensic testing. Prosecutor Dithong Mpale of Botswana's Directorate of Public Prosecutions opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations and concerns about possible flight risk.
Then the Tests Came Back
In an 18 September statement, the Botswana Police Service said pathological and scientific tests showed that the objects were not human body parts.
'Following extensive forensic pathological examinations and comprehensive scientific analysis, it has now been conclusively established that the exhibits that resembled male organs, recovered during the police investigation, are not human body parts,' police said.
The investigation now centres on an alleged fraudulent scheme after investigators reported the objects were presented to the public as genuine human body parts.
The Alleged Spiritual Trick
Police allege that Mudzongeri used the objects to persuade clients of his supposed supernatural abilities, stating he could remove bad luck, resolve spiritual problems, or address personal issues.
'Through this deception, victims were allegedly induced to part with money under the false belief that they were receiving genuine spiritual assistance,' Assistant Commissioner Near Bagali, the Botswana Police Service public relations officer, said.
Mudzongeri informed the court of his intention to clear his name and assured that he would not abscond. He also stated that, if detained, his property would be left without anyone to look after it.
The unusual details also drew sarcastic reactions online, with some Reddit users joking about the court report's wording and the coincidence of the detective's last name, Dickson, in a case involving suspected male genitalia.
Comment
by u/stankmanly from discussion
in ThatsInsane
A Strange Regional History
Stories involving male genitalia have circulated in parts of Africa for years.
The BBC reported this month that over 80 people were killed between October 2025 and July 2026 following accusations of so-called 'genital theft' in six African countries.
These claims allege that one person can cause another man's genitals to shrink or disappear through physical contact. In 2008, Reuters reported that panic over alleged penis theft in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, led to attempted lynchings and arrests of individuals accused of sorcery.
Some victims claimed their genitals disappeared or shrank after being touched, while others stated that alleged sorcerers demanded payment for a cure. This broader history helps explain why claims about male genitalia and supernatural practices can quickly escalate beyond unusual allegations.
