Five church members in court for bashing two fellow worshipers

FIVE members of an apostolic church in Bulawayo allegedly beat up two fellow worshipers for ending a church service on their arrival.

Advance Magore (38) of Mahatshula North, Norman Tanyanyiwa (38), Felix Machisa (39) both of Fairbridge police camp, Jeremiah Warikandwa (42) of Llwellyn Army Barracks and Evidence Magore (24) of Mahatshula North, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Merylin Mutshina on Thursday, facing assault charges.

They were not asked to plead and the magistrate remanded them out of custody to January 29 for trial.

The court heard that on December 9 last year, the five allegedly assaulted two members of their church, George Muzvuwe of Northend and Tawanda Chapungu of Mahatshula North in Bulawayo, over the abrupt ending of a church service on their arrival at the venue of the service.

The incident occurred at an open area at Mahatshula turnoff along the Bulawayo-Harare Highway where the service was being held. The five allegedly beat up Muzvuwe and Chapungu and pelted them with stones.

Muzvuwe and Chapungu sustained injuries all over their bodies and were taken to a Bulawayo hospital for treatment. A report was made to the police, leading to the arrest of the five.