adminTendai Rupapa Harare Bureau
FIVE more members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu Apostolic sect accused of assaulting police, journalists and Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe officials in Budiriro last week appeared in court yesterday. This brings the number of suspects arrested so far and who have appeared in court in connection with the case to 35.
Alexio Kanhema, 37, Clement Chimutso, 47, Madzimure Madzimure, 36, Charles Matanga, 42, and Darlington Mambayo, 46, appeared before magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe yesterday, while their accomplices appeared during the course of the week.
Chikwekwe remanded the five in custody to June 16 after the prosecutor Gift Zumbika opposed bail.
Zumbika alleged that at around 11AM on May 30, ACCZ president Bishop Johannes Ndanga, his delegation and 26 police officers went to Ishmael Mufani’s sect to address the gathering over matters related to denying children education and other alleged malpractices.
Bishop Ndanga, the court heard, delivered his address while the gathering sang and challenged him to speak in Shona, arguing they were not conversant with English.
Bishop Ndanga then told the police to arrest a congregant who was constantly heckling him.
In protest, other congregants started singing a song called Umambo Hwepfumo Neropa, a tune that incited the five and their accomplices to assault the delegation using shepherd’s staffs and stones.
Nine police officers and two journalists — Relax Mafurutu and Tichaona Meza — sustained head injuries and bruises all over their bodies.
ACCZ member Langton Muchena also sustained serious injuries.
Apart from the assaults, the apostolic sect members allegedly damaged property, including a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation truck.
The damaged property was valued at $1,350.
derick.khumalo