News / National
Madzibaba Ismael denied bail
07 Jan 2015 at 16:49hrs | Views
JOHANNE Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect leader Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa was yesterday denied bail after the court ruled that he is a flight risk.
The court said it was surprised by Chokurongerwa's claim that he was not on the run for the past seven months following the violence at his shrine in Harare.
Chokurongerwa, 44, appeared before Harare magistrate Milton Serima facing public violence charges.
He was remanded in custody to January 20. Serima said Chokurongerwa was not a proper candidate for bail.
"After the violence, the accused was never located and one wonders why he, being the leader of the apostolic sect, never showed up at his shrine.
"He would've been expected to come back and find out what happened. The accused is likely to flee because members of his sect were sentenced and that can prompt him to run away," he said.
However, Chokurongerwa's lawyer Shepherd Mushonga had offered to pay $1,000 for bail coupled with stringent bail conditions.
His basis for bail application was that he did not use cellphones, television, radio or read newspapers therefore he was not aware that the police were looking for him.
"He was not present when the offence was committed, if he was there, surely he would've stopped the violence.
"The police never advertised him in the newspaper that he's on the police wanted list. Despite sensationalisation of this case, stringent bail conditions will meet justice of this matter," he said.
Chokurongerwa was arrested at his rural home in Chigogodza village Musami in Murehwa.
The prosecutor, Sebastian Mutizirwa, alleged that on May 30 last year around 11AM Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe president Bishop Johannes Ndanga, his delegation and the police went to the shrine at Budiriro 2 Park in Harare.
The purpose of the visit was to address the issue of denying children formal education amongst other issues.
It is alleged that Bishop Ndanga ordered the arrest of Chokurongerwa after he ordered him to speak in Shona instead of English but he started the song "humambo hwepfumo neropa," resulting in his congregants attacking the police, ZBC cameraman Relax Mafurutu and others.
A ZBC BAW pick-up truck and a tripod camera stand valued at $1,350 was also damaged.
The court said it was surprised by Chokurongerwa's claim that he was not on the run for the past seven months following the violence at his shrine in Harare.
Chokurongerwa, 44, appeared before Harare magistrate Milton Serima facing public violence charges.
He was remanded in custody to January 20. Serima said Chokurongerwa was not a proper candidate for bail.
"After the violence, the accused was never located and one wonders why he, being the leader of the apostolic sect, never showed up at his shrine.
"He would've been expected to come back and find out what happened. The accused is likely to flee because members of his sect were sentenced and that can prompt him to run away," he said.
However, Chokurongerwa's lawyer Shepherd Mushonga had offered to pay $1,000 for bail coupled with stringent bail conditions.
His basis for bail application was that he did not use cellphones, television, radio or read newspapers therefore he was not aware that the police were looking for him.
"He was not present when the offence was committed, if he was there, surely he would've stopped the violence.
"The police never advertised him in the newspaper that he's on the police wanted list. Despite sensationalisation of this case, stringent bail conditions will meet justice of this matter," he said.
Chokurongerwa was arrested at his rural home in Chigogodza village Musami in Murehwa.
The prosecutor, Sebastian Mutizirwa, alleged that on May 30 last year around 11AM Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe president Bishop Johannes Ndanga, his delegation and the police went to the shrine at Budiriro 2 Park in Harare.
The purpose of the visit was to address the issue of denying children formal education amongst other issues.
It is alleged that Bishop Ndanga ordered the arrest of Chokurongerwa after he ordered him to speak in Shona instead of English but he started the song "humambo hwepfumo neropa," resulting in his congregants attacking the police, ZBC cameraman Relax Mafurutu and others.
A ZBC BAW pick-up truck and a tripod camera stand valued at $1,350 was also damaged.
Source - chronicle
