ACCZ cannot ban Masowe sect

The usual band of legal experts have said the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe has no legal mandate to issue judgments and enforce its orders because it is not a court of law.

This comes after the ACCZ Legal, Peace, Justice and Reconciliation Commission issued an order against an apostolic sect led by Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani and based in Harare's Budiriro suburb.

Violence erupted at the sect's shrine Friday when ACCZ president Bishop Johannes Ndanga attempted to effect the order, resulting in the injury of several people, including police officers and a journalist.

Lawyer Chris Mhike said judicial authority derived from the Constitution of Zimbabwe and relevant statutes, particularly the High Court Act of Zimbabwe and the Magistrates Court Act.

Another lawyer, Chanda Chopamba, said court orders were executed by a Messenger of Court or a Deputy Sheriff.

Misheck Hogwe said there was no provision for non-legal entities to set up courts and issue judgements and orders. But ACCZ president Bishop Johannes Ndanga said they could ban cults.

"We have that mandate as all these churches do have a law that governs them, except canon law," he said.