Johane Marange factions fight for church regalia

The long running dispute between two church factions relating to ownership of church regalia and other paraphernalia resulted in the jailing of 10 members belonging to Taguta's faction, after their appeal failed to find favour in the High Court, following a funeral brawl in 2001.

The Supreme Court reserved its ruling.

Advocate Mpofu told the court that the High Court did not misdirect itself or depart from its senses as there was no evidence advanced by the appellants which may cause the Supreme Court to interfere with its judgement as it properly ruled that there was no cause in view of the raging dispute between the parties for Momberume to authorise the withdrawal.

The appellants argue that the withdrawal is a nullity as it was not authored by Momberume but on the instructions of Israel Ruoko a chief high priest and an interested party who has ill motives against the respondent as he defected to the Taguta faction.

In the appeal, Marange Apostolic Church and Noah Taguta and Israel Ruoko are appealing against the granting of an application authorising a notice of withdrawal issued by the High Court in favour of the respondent Clemence Momberume represented by Advocate Thabani Mpofu on the basis that it was not properly issued.

An earlier decision by the High Court to uphold the withdrawal of the matter by both parties by consent is being challenged on the basis that the notice of withdrawal was not authentic.

The wrangle between Clemence Momberume and Noah Taguta, both high priests in the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church fighting over 11 priestly garments, seven church clothing, eight church belts, two tins of water, three pots, two wooden boxes, containing glasses and a tea pot is now before the Supreme Court of appeals.

The legal battle for control of church properties between two Johanne Marange Apostolic Church's male family members who lead splinter groups is far from over with the Supreme Court reserving its judgment in the latest civil dispute.