Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A BISHOP from a local religious organisation has appeared in court charged with murder after he tied a naked woman and her husband with chains before severely striking them with a leather whip, leading to the woman’s death.
Gomori, a Bishop at Damasko Zion Christian Church located in Beitbridge, appeared for sentencing on Monday before Bulawayo High Court Judge, Justice Ngoni Nduna.
Justice Nduna sentenced Bishop Gomori to 10 years in jail.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Nduna said: “The offender’s defence that it was a church practice to beat up congregants to cast out demons, and that when the deceased joined his church she and her husband consented to such a practice, does not hold water and is not lawful. The practice is archaic and unlawful.”
In aggravation, Chief Director of Prosecution Mr Justin Uladi submitted that a life was lost and prayed for a deterrent sentence to like-minded people.
“A life was lost unnecessarily while following an archaic and inhumane church practice. A custodial sentence should be effected because a non-custodial sentence will trivialise the matter,” he said.
“We pray that the court effect a deterrent sentence so as to send a strong message to other church leaders who still uphold such archaic church practices.
“The deceased died without dignity as she was stripped naked and severely thrashed in front of male congregants.
“As such, the court should send a clear message that such inhumane church practices are not tolerated,” said Mr Uladi.
The deceased’s husband told the court that when they were praying, one of the church pastors named Philip Banga stopped them.
“Banga ordered two male congregants to tie us with a chain and claimed we were possessed by demons. On the following day we were taken to the Limpopo River and immersed in water, saying they were casting out demons,” he recalled.
“We were then taken back to the church where, upon arrival, we were put into a room. After that, Gomori started to assault us until we fell unconscious, resulting in my wife’s death,” he told the court.
