Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
THE man, who is being accused of assaulting some police officers in a bid to stop the arrest of Prophet Magaya, allegedly pushed a policeman to the ground during a dawn raid on Saturday morning.
Tapiwa Felix Chikondo, 34, who is believed to be one of the prophet’s ‘aides’, is also a soldier.
He is expected in court today for his bail ruling.
Chikondo was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai charged with obstruction of justice.
The complainant is the State, which is being represented by Detective Inspector Washington Mashizha, who is stationed at CID Commercial Crimes Division Harare as the Officer in Charge.
Chikondo is employed by the Zimbabwe National Army as a corporal and is currently stationed at Rusununguko Holdings.
The court heard that on Saturday, a team of police officers, which was made up of Superintendent Ndhlovu, Detective Inspector Mashizha, Detective Inspector Siwela-Vhurepi, Inspector Mashongera, Detective Assistant Inspector Chidumwa and Detective Assistant Inspector Chifamba, were at the entrance of Prophet Walter Magaya’s prayer mountain where they wanted to arrest him in connection with a number of cases of rape and fraud.
Part of the team had gone up the mountain to effect the arrest.
It is alleged that while the police were at the boom gate, Chikondo came driving a sky-blue Nissan Dayz, at a high speed and stopped in front of police vehicle, blocking it.
He was furious, according to the State, and asked why police officers were at the prayer mountain.
Det Insp Mashizha produced his police identity card and told him that they were all police officers and were there to investigate a number of cases.
He allegedly told the officers that they did not have permission to be there since this was his place.
He ordered them to leave.
He then allegedly charged towards Det Ass Insp Chifamba and pushed him to the ground.
Det Insp Mashizha then intervened and restrained him from assaulting Det Ass Insp Chifamba.
He then arrested him.
Mathew Masinge