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Solange Dengu Court Reporter
Chairman of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) Mr Lameck Chitope yesterday nailed Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa Mufani saying he was the one who assaulted him with his shepherd’s crook on the head.
Mufani is being charged with public violence.
Chitope (72) said they had gone to warn Mufani who was facing allegations of abusing women and children.
“During the meeting Bishop (Johannes) Ndanga advised them to report at our offices within 21 days. Mufani interjected, stood up and started singing ‘Umambo Hwepfumo Neropa’,” he said.
He said the police tried to protect them from being attacked and when he walked towards Mufani, he was hit on the head by his shepherd’s crook.
“Mufani hit me with his crook on the head. I fell down and members of his congregation joined in and started attacking me,” said Chitope.
Mr Chitope told the court that he sustained a fractured arm.
Prosecutor Mrs Francesca Mukumbiri tendered two extracts of Daily News and Zimbabwe Mail as exhibit with pictures in which Chitope showed his injuries after the attack.
When video footage was played in court, Chitope managed to identify Mufani.
Mufani was arrested at his rural home in Chigogodza Village Musami in Murehwa in January this year after being on the run for seven months.
Eleven sect members who took part in the violence were each sentenced to an effective four years in prison in November last year.
Twenty-six others were acquitted after the State failed to prove a case against them.
Prosecutor Mrs Mukumbiri alleged that on May 30 last year at around 11am, Bishop Ndanga, his delegation and the police went to Mufani’s shrine at Budiriro 2 Park in Harare to address the sect’s practice of denying children formal education.
Mufani interrupted Bishop Ndanga, prompting him to order his arrest.
He started singing resulting in his congregates attacking the police, ACCZ officials and journalists.
Online Reporter