Magic bean share price continues to soar
Mar. 21st, 2006 04:22 pmA fake Zimbabwean traditional healer has been found guilty of conning a businesswoman out of $30,000 to pay for mermaids to recover her stolen car.
The money was to have been used to import the mermaids from the UK and accommodate them in a local hotel. Some of the money was to have been used to pay for a bull, whose genitals would supposedly help find the thief of her luxury vehicle.
Belief in animism is widespread in Zimbabwe, and across Africa. There is a national association of traditional healers but the court found that Edina Chizema was not registered.
Chizema had also asked for money to buy mobile phones to contact the mermaids and said she could solve the businesswoman's undisclosed "personal problems". [Source: BBC]

"Brown Toyota Corolla, was it?"
In related news, Prince Charles has called for greater respect for and among different religious beliefs.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 04:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 05:32 pm (UTC)What I don't get about this story, is that even if you believed in magic, fairies etc. why would you think a mermaid was the best qualified person to find a car?
"Yeah, we've looked all over the sea and we can't find it. Sorry? Yeah, the sea. Couldn't find it. Ohhhh. I get you - a car. Thought you said "carp". A car you say. No, can't help you. Unless it's been in the sea. Has it been in the sea? No? Shame. Sorry, love."
no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 05:53 pm (UTC)There's probably a mermaid rescue centre somewhere for mermaids that have been used by unregistered users to look for lost cars, money down the back of sofas etc.