TWO of the four members of an apostolic sect in Bulawayo accused of assaulting fellow congregants for abruptly ending a church service upon their arrival are policemen based at Fairbridge Station, it has emerged.
STAFF REPORTER
This was revealed by witnesses during the trial of the four following the incident which occurred on December 9 last year at an open area at Mahatshula turn-off along the Bulawayo-Harare highway.
It also emerged in court those involved are members of the Johanne Masowe sect.
The witnesses said the assailants included church leader Advance Magore (38) of Mahatshula North, two policemen, Norman Tanyanyiwa (38) and Felix Machisa (39), Jeremiah Warikandwa (42) of Llwellyn Army Barracks and Evidence Magore (24) of Mahatshula North.
All the five denied the assault charges when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Merylin Mutshina on Thursday.
The State led evidence from two state witnesses, George Muzuwe of Northend and Tawanda Chapungu of Mahatshula who were also victims of the alleged attack.
Mutshina remanded the five out of custody on free bail to February 6 when the third State witness Melody Chimombe will be called to testify against the five.
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Muzuwe told the court that he is a prophet in the Johane Masowe branch at Mahatshula while Magore is a leader of the branch.
“On the day, Magore came in the company of 15 church members in a blue kombi when the service was ending,” said Muzuwe.
He said Magore asked why the service was ending at the time when they arrived and started assaulting him and Chapungu when they tried to explain.
“They were wearing church garments which they removed before they assaulted us,” he said.
“We did not report the matter, but a female congregant made a police report on our behalf.”
Muzuwe said Tanyanyiwa told them that even if they reported the matter to the police nothing would happen since he and Machisa were policemen.
Muzuwe said as a result of the assault, he is now experiencing chest pains.
