HARARE – A faction within the feuding Mwazha African Apostolic Church has sought police protection claiming persistent attacks and attempts by a rival faction to disrupt a church gathering set to be graced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa end of this week.
Led by Reverend Nyika Murisi, they accuse rivals Enerst Mhambare and Kurauone Sibanda of leading followers to destroy Blair toilets at the host Ndarikure Shrine in Midlands Province and threatening to shoot congregants.
The complaint is made in a letter dated August 23 addressed to the Commissioner General of Police Godwin Matanga and copied to the President, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya, Home Affairs and Justice Ministers.
Through their lawyers Rubaya and Chatambudza, Murisi said they were given the greenlight by the church’s supreme leader Archbishop Paul Mwazha to convene the conference on August 30 which the faction leaders allegedly want to hinder.
“Our clients are of the firm view that Ernest Mhambare, Kurauone Sibanda and his cabal want to cause mayhem and pandemonium and in the process, disturb the prevailing peace in Zimbabwe,” the letter reads.
The leaders, through their lawyers, chronicled violent incidents which occurred at the shrine on August 19.
“Kurauone Sibanda and his co-accused person connived to unlawfully and intentionally destroy the numerous Blair toilets which belong to all the members of the Vapostori VeAfrica Church.
“They proceeded to Ndarikure Shrine with a JCB machine as well as a grader wherein they proceeded to razor down the church toilets which were functioning well in a bid to prevent the church gathering that is scheduled for the 30th of August 2024 to the 1st of September 2024.
“He has allegedly proceeded to dig trenches across the roads leading to the shrine in a bid to block our clients from accessing the shrine.
“Kurauone allegedly discharged a firearm to disperse some of our clients who had proceeded to the shrine to commence preparatory works.
“He proceeded to point the firearm to other church members who tried to negotiate with him,” the letter reads.
This, they further allege through lawyers, is a political attempt by the faction to stop the scheduled conference.
“Our clients suspect that Ernest Mhambare, Kurauone Sibanda, and his cabal are sympathetic to other political actors who are opposed to the Presidency, of His Excellency Cde. Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa since he is the one earmarked to attend as the Guest of Honour,” lawyers wrote.
The Mhambare faction is allegedly abusing a court order which was obtained against another faction which the lawyers said does not relate to their clients.
“Despite the consent from Paul Mwazha, Ernest Mhambare and his cabal are attempting to stop the lawful gathering without a lawful order against our clients to that effect.
“Instead, they are abusing an inapplicable Order of the High Court of Zimbabwe per Mangota J.
“These particular individuals are not the ones who are being harassed by the police.
“Instead, same has been abused to fight Reverend Nyika Murisi and his colleagues on the basis of an Order of Court which does not relate to them,” lawyers further wrote.
The faction called for urgent police intervention and deployment at the Ndarikure shrine for them to continue with preparations.
“It is critical for the Zimbabwe Republic Police to attend our clients’ meetings for purposes of keeping peace since they are peace-loving.
“In the circumstances, our clients are requesting protection and security during the intended gathering scheduled from 30th of August 2024 to the 1st of September 2024.
“Please take note that our clients intend to urgently re-build Blair toilets at the shrine and install all the necessary facilities and amenities required for them to be able to have a flawless conference.”
