News / Religion
Church members in fist fight during service
10 Jan 2013 at 23:19hrs | Views
Members of the Johane Masowe Wechishanu Church in Bulawayo recently exchanged blows during a church service following a dispute over the use of an open space.
The congregants are reportedly fighting over control of an open space commonly known as granite, opposite Mahatshula South turn off along the Bulawayo-Gweru Highway, which the church uses for worshipping.
The fight is reportedly between members of the Mahatshula South and Fairbridge branches.
The vicious fight is believed to have been fuelled by a member of the church, who is a prophet and is based at Fairbridge.
Church members allege that the prophet, name withheld, sometime last year sexually abused a woman from the church whose husband is visually impaired.
When the husband and other congregants started complaining about it, the prophet and other members from Fairbridge allegedly started harassing those based at granite in Mahatshula South to force them out of the area.
Mahatshula South members, who now want the prophet excommunicated for the alleged numerous sex escapades, alleged that on 9 December last year his fellow members from Fairbridge visited and beat them up in front of policemen, who they had brought to the church site.
The matter has spilled to the courts and two members appeared in court yesterday for assaulting fellow congregants on 16 December.
Other members were reportedly arrested and were expected to appear in court yesterday, but the docket was reportedly referred back to Queens Park Police Station.
Police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the arrests, but could not comment further saying the matter was already in court.
Two members, David Ushe (37), of 397 Mahatshula South and Passmore Danger (34), of 1165 Mahatshula North, appeared before Mr Tawanda Muchemwa facing a charge of assault.
The two were remanded out of custody on their own cognisance and will appear in court on Wednesday for commencement of trial.
Ushe and Danger allegedly assaulted Mr George Munzvuwe (37), of 26 Heany Road in North End at about 10 am on 16 December leading to the whole congregation fleeing in a fellow member's truck.
The court was told that the atmosphere in the church was no longer conducive because of the internal fighting.
Ushe, who is employed at TM Ascot and Danger, who is a security guard at Homeguard Security, were allegedly overheard on 16 December planning to beat up church members during a service and threatened to beat up Mr Munzvuwe, who was trying to phone the police to alert them about the issue. It is alleged that Ushe picked up a stick which he used to threaten Mr Munzvuwe with.
The other church members allegedly fled from the church and sought refuge in a truck belonging to Mr Prison Magwaza, who then sped off to Queens Park Police Station where a report was made.
Mr Robin Mukura is representing the State.
The congregants are reportedly fighting over control of an open space commonly known as granite, opposite Mahatshula South turn off along the Bulawayo-Gweru Highway, which the church uses for worshipping.
The fight is reportedly between members of the Mahatshula South and Fairbridge branches.
The vicious fight is believed to have been fuelled by a member of the church, who is a prophet and is based at Fairbridge.
Church members allege that the prophet, name withheld, sometime last year sexually abused a woman from the church whose husband is visually impaired.
When the husband and other congregants started complaining about it, the prophet and other members from Fairbridge allegedly started harassing those based at granite in Mahatshula South to force them out of the area.
Mahatshula South members, who now want the prophet excommunicated for the alleged numerous sex escapades, alleged that on 9 December last year his fellow members from Fairbridge visited and beat them up in front of policemen, who they had brought to the church site.
The matter has spilled to the courts and two members appeared in court yesterday for assaulting fellow congregants on 16 December.
Other members were reportedly arrested and were expected to appear in court yesterday, but the docket was reportedly referred back to Queens Park Police Station.
Police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the arrests, but could not comment further saying the matter was already in court.
Two members, David Ushe (37), of 397 Mahatshula South and Passmore Danger (34), of 1165 Mahatshula North, appeared before Mr Tawanda Muchemwa facing a charge of assault.
The two were remanded out of custody on their own cognisance and will appear in court on Wednesday for commencement of trial.
Ushe and Danger allegedly assaulted Mr George Munzvuwe (37), of 26 Heany Road in North End at about 10 am on 16 December leading to the whole congregation fleeing in a fellow member's truck.
The court was told that the atmosphere in the church was no longer conducive because of the internal fighting.
Ushe, who is employed at TM Ascot and Danger, who is a security guard at Homeguard Security, were allegedly overheard on 16 December planning to beat up church members during a service and threatened to beat up Mr Munzvuwe, who was trying to phone the police to alert them about the issue. It is alleged that Ushe picked up a stick which he used to threaten Mr Munzvuwe with.
The other church members allegedly fled from the church and sought refuge in a truck belonging to Mr Prison Magwaza, who then sped off to Queens Park Police Station where a report was made.
Mr Robin Mukura is representing the State.
Source - TC
