Cop-bashing apostolic sect member denied bail

High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze yesterday dismissed an application for bail pending appeal lodged by one of the five Johannes Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect members currently serving a five-year jail term for bashing police officers in Budiriro, Harare, last year.

Tichafa Madyegora wanted to be released on bail so he could appeal both his conviction and sentence. He argued that provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe who presided over the matter erred in his ruling.

However, Justice Mawadze said there were no prospects of success on appeal in Madyegora's matter, adding that the apostolic sect member was a flight risk.

Madyegora was arrested in June last year alongside 29 other members of the sect, some of whom were acquitted for lack of evidence.

The court heard that on May 30 2014, Madyegora and other members of his congregation were at the shrine in Budiriro when they turned violent and attacked 26 police officers, journalists and Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) officials following fallout with ACCZ president Bishop Johannes Ndanga.