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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
The High Court will today hear a bail appeal by 24 members of the Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani-led Johanne Masowe eChishanu Apostolic sect, who are accused of assaulting their rivals, police and journalists in Budiriro.
The 24 – through lawyer Mr Obey Shava – filed a bail appeal after a Harare magistrate dismissed their initial freedom bid.
Magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe ruled that the release of the suspects would cause a public outcry and threw out the bail application despite a concession by the National Prosecuting Authority.
The group is charged with public violence and will be back at the magistrates’ courts next Monday for routine remand.
One of their lawyers, Mr Alec Muchadehama, yesterday told The Herald: “The bail application has been set down for hearing tomorrow (Tuesday) at the High Court.”
The group argues that the magistrate erred by denying them bail because their release would spark a public outcry.
It is argued that the suspects were proper candidates for bail and that they were of fixed abode.
Meanwhile, three other suspects – Milton Murinda, Dennis Banda and John Mutasa – yesterday mounted a separate bail appeal at the High Court and the matter is yet to be set down for hearing.
Allegations against the suspects arose on May 30 when Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe officials, police officers and journalists were beaten up in Budiriro.
ACCZ president Reverend Johannes Ndanga had gone to inform the sect that it had been banned for allegedly abusing women and children.
The congregants challenged the ACCZ leader to read his speech in Shona, claiming they were not familiar with English.
An altercation ensued and the police unsuccessfully tried to maintain order resulting in several uniformed personnel, ZBC cameraman Relax Mafurutu and the sect’s rivals getting injured.
Online Reporter