Vapostori leader fingered in Zanu PF succession

A senior member of the Budiriro-based Johanne Masowe eChishanu has sensationally claimed the apostolic sect was banned two months ago by Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) president Johannes Ndanga after it declined to back his push for Vice-President Joice Mujuru to ascend to the presidency.

In a document, a copy of which The Zimbabwe Mail has in its possession, Madzibaba Spatwell Obey Marewo said Ndanga failed to arm-twist the sect into backing Mujuru to succeed President Robert Mugabe and his own political ambitions.

Johanne Masowe eChishanu was banned by Ndanga on May 30 – a move which triggered a violent reaction from the sect members who assaulted members of the police and journalists.

Over 20 members of the church were arrested in connection with the disturbances and are currently on bail, while sect leader Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani is on the run.

The sect was banned on allegations of women and children rights abuses, among other allegations.

"Are you (Ndanga) aware that the allegations you made against the Budiriro apostles are so dangerous and malicious, am sure your bullying antics should be exposed. We were quiet all (a) long try to give space to the court case and tackle (the issue) stage by stage, but (you have) grown too big for (your) boots," reads Marewo's document.

He claimed Ndanga was not a church man, but a politician, as he stated ‘this foolishly in a meeting we had with him at his offices in the presence of Madzibaba Ishmael' soon after last year's general elections won resoundingly by Mugabe and Zanu PF.

Marewo quoted Ndanga having said: "… we hear you prayed for our party to win the elections but our problem is we are tired of being led by heathens.

"So currently, I am lobbying the president to create a ministry of religion led by an Apostle. After that we would want to sign a pact with Zanu PF which should see us land the post of the vice president. As your colleague, I (will) take that post, but it requires us to work together as a united entity.

"So we want you to help our patron Mai Mujuru ascends to the presidency without any hurdles. That will be our starting point as the apostolic sects, once we are agreed all these stories in the press about child abuse will be thrown away because we know they are lies."

Ndanga on Wednesday last week had promised to provide a response to the allegations, but in a short telephone interview with The Zimbabwe Mail he denied ever lobbying for Mujuru or seeking political office.

"Everyone who knows me will tell you I would never say that. Those are lies by people with a hidden agenda, who want to orchestrate a smear campaign against me for the work I am doing. I would want to read that document first then give you a proper response," said Ndanga.

The document was sent to Ndanga's offices on Thursday, but he did not respond to allegations contained in it as he had committed to do.Spirited efforts thereafter to get a comment from him drew blanks.

In the dossier, Marewo further said Ndanga claimed he had an arrangement with Mugabe that apostolic sects should not be harassed.

"I have an agreement with the President (Mugabe), I don't need an appointment to see him, I just call him and he can even adjourn an important meeting just to see me," Marewo quoted Ndanga allegedly saying.

In response to Ndanga's demands, Mufani is alleged to have told the ACCZ leader that his congregants were not allowed to delve into the country's politics.

"On your request for us to pray for mother (Mujuru) we cannot, because we have not been asked (by the Holy Spirit) and because this country can never be ruled by a woman so we cannot go against God's command," Mufani allegedly retorted.

Ndanga is said to have reacted angrily to Mufani's response.

He allegedly said the sect would be harassed by the police and subsequently banned.

Marewo alleged that Ndanga went further to claim that there were only three powerful people in the country, Mugabe, Mujuru and himself.

In another meeting, ACCZ registrar Taurai Mbewe and Bishop Lameck Chitope, among those hospitalised following the Budiriro violence, allegedly made "all sorts of allegations and all forms of intimidation were unleashed".

Marewo said at that meeting, which included a number of unidentified journalists, the congregants were "detained" from morning to sunset.

"They ate and enjoyed their freedom as our own rights were being infringed on at the instigation of power and authority from the highest level we were made to believe," he alleged.

Meanwhile, Marewo has threatened Ndanga with civil litigation if he does not show the nation evidence of the abuse he claimed was being perpetrated by the sect leaders.