News / National
Rapist pastor to spend Christmas and New Year behind bars
21 Dec 2013 at 14:32hrs | Views
Pastor Robert Martin Gumbura, the leader of End Time Message will spend Christmas and New Year holidays behind bars after Harare regional Magistrate Hosea Mujaya said he will deliver judgment in his matter on January 8, 2014.
Prosecutor Jonathan Murombedzi closed the State's case after leading evidence from 12 witnesses. He said Gumbura, who is facing multiple rape charges, involving female congregants, was selfish and cruel for "using" women that he would later hand over to other church men for marriage.
However, Gumbura denied Murombedzi's claims, saying the victims were lying against him, since he was in love with most of them.
"We were so much in hotels, Meikles and Jameson were like our second homes," Gumbura said.
Murombedzi accused Gumbura of using fear, indoctrination and brainwashing to ensure that congregants succumb to his sexual and financial demands.
He said this was buttressed by video clips that were played in court, which were recorded during some of his church sermons.
During the sermons, Gumbura is shown, claiming to be placing people that would have left his church in the hands of Satan, threatening that a bad omen would befall them. Some of the bad things that he prayed for include, losing employment, dying, divorcing and poverty.
In one of the clips, Gumbura gives a list of people that had died for defying his orders or for leaving his church.
"You cannot leave without my permission," Gumbura said.
He said, placing people in the hands of Satan was, however, misconstrued by the State, since it was only a litmus test, to prove someone's spiritual strength.
Gumbura told the court that Spoken Word Ministries pastor Godwin Chitsinde was masterminding the rape charges, an allegation he denied in court.
He said Chitsinde had also bewitched his brother's wife. Asked if he had proof of that, Gumbura said he had the evidence that in 1980, Chitsinde went to Nigeria where he reportedly sacrificed his brother's wife.
He said the uniform evidence given by the witnesses, shows that they were coached on what to say in court.
Further probed on the security men at his house, Gumbura said it was for his protection during the time he was campaigning for the July 31 elections as Mabvuku House of Assembly candidate for Zanu PF.
He said the security personnel remains stationed at his house.
Gumbura said he has not paid bride price to four of his wives, adding that all his spouses loved him.
"My wives jostle to see me, every day they come to see me in remand prison, when they bring me food," Gumbura said.
However, Murombedzi said there was evidence that his women actually had to make a written application to watch television, which shows that they feared him.
Murombedzi questioned why Gumbura was committing people in the hands of the Satan, if he was not a devil worshipper.
Gumbura retorted that he believed in God.
Prosecutor Jonathan Murombedzi closed the State's case after leading evidence from 12 witnesses. He said Gumbura, who is facing multiple rape charges, involving female congregants, was selfish and cruel for "using" women that he would later hand over to other church men for marriage.
However, Gumbura denied Murombedzi's claims, saying the victims were lying against him, since he was in love with most of them.
"We were so much in hotels, Meikles and Jameson were like our second homes," Gumbura said.
Murombedzi accused Gumbura of using fear, indoctrination and brainwashing to ensure that congregants succumb to his sexual and financial demands.
He said this was buttressed by video clips that were played in court, which were recorded during some of his church sermons.
During the sermons, Gumbura is shown, claiming to be placing people that would have left his church in the hands of Satan, threatening that a bad omen would befall them. Some of the bad things that he prayed for include, losing employment, dying, divorcing and poverty.
In one of the clips, Gumbura gives a list of people that had died for defying his orders or for leaving his church.
"You cannot leave without my permission," Gumbura said.
He said, placing people in the hands of Satan was, however, misconstrued by the State, since it was only a litmus test, to prove someone's spiritual strength.
Gumbura told the court that Spoken Word Ministries pastor Godwin Chitsinde was masterminding the rape charges, an allegation he denied in court.
He said Chitsinde had also bewitched his brother's wife. Asked if he had proof of that, Gumbura said he had the evidence that in 1980, Chitsinde went to Nigeria where he reportedly sacrificed his brother's wife.
He said the uniform evidence given by the witnesses, shows that they were coached on what to say in court.
Further probed on the security men at his house, Gumbura said it was for his protection during the time he was campaigning for the July 31 elections as Mabvuku House of Assembly candidate for Zanu PF.
He said the security personnel remains stationed at his house.
Gumbura said he has not paid bride price to four of his wives, adding that all his spouses loved him.
"My wives jostle to see me, every day they come to see me in remand prison, when they bring me food," Gumbura said.
However, Murombedzi said there was evidence that his women actually had to make a written application to watch television, which shows that they feared him.
Murombedzi questioned why Gumbura was committing people in the hands of the Satan, if he was not a devil worshipper.
Gumbura retorted that he believed in God.
Source - Daily News
