Incarcerated Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect leader Ishmael Chokurongerwa, who is being sued for $5 000 by Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) member Lameck Chitope for injuries, has filed an appearance to defend against the claim at the High Court.
CHARLES LAITON
Chitope is suing Chokurongerwa, populary known as Madzibaba Ishmael, alongside his church mate, Takavengwa Gwenzi of Green Valley, Epworth, for injuries he allegedly sustained at the sect’s shrine in Budiriro sometime in May last year.
Chokurongerwa, who is serving a four-year effective jail term for public violence, is set to contest the damages lawsuit behind bars after his application seeking bail pending appeal was dismissed by the High Court two weeks ago.
In his particulars of claim filed on Tuesday last week at the magistrates’ court, Chitope said: “After the assault perpetrated on me by the two defendants on May 30, 2014 my claim is as follows: Damages and loss of income $3 000, injuries and medical expenses incurred $1 500, pain and humiliation on my person $500.”
Chokurongerwa is among the 12 members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu who were slapped with jail terms by the magistrates’ court after being convicted of public violence.
Chokurongerwa’s chances of having his imprisonment reduced through his appeal look slim following the dismissal of his bail pending appeal application by High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze two weeks ago.
