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Court Reporters
The High Court yesterday postponed to tomorrow 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 at the High Court after Harare magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe ruled that their release would cause a public outcry, 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.
Justice Esther Muremba deferred the bail hearing to tomorrow to allow the State to file its response to the application.
Mr Douglas Chesa appeared for the State.
The group argues that the magistrate erred by denying them bail because their release could spark a public out-cry.
It is argued that the suspects were proper candidates for bail and that they were of fixed abode.
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 conversant 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.
Meanwhile, a member of the Budiriro apostolic sect has apologised to Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri.
This emerged in court yesterday when David Shamuyarira, who belongs to the Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani-led sect, appeared before Mr Donald Ndirowei facing public violence charges.
Shamuyarira, who is represented by Mr Tawanda Takaendesa, is the 36th sect member to appear in court.
Prosecutor Mr Farai Gatsi opposed granting of bail to Shamuyarira.
He also said Shamuyarira wrote a letter to Comm-Gen Chihuri apologising on behalf of the sect for the May 30 attack.
Online Reporter