News / National
Mthwakazi youth leader 'arrested' over apostolic sect raids
31 May 2024 at 16:15hrs | Views
Lwazi Khanye, the national youth treasurer of the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), was reportedly arrested on Tuesday in connection with the party's recent raids on apostolic sect shrines in Bulawayo.
These raids, which began on April 24, have been ongoing since then, according to a statement released by the MRP information department yesterday.
Khanye was picked up at his workplace by officers from Bulawayo Central Police Station and was later released. The MRP stated, "Bulawayo Central Police picked up Khanye at his workplace to question him about the clean-up campaigns MRP has been conducting in Bulawayo in recent weeks."
Khanye was detained at the station from 8 AM and released after a docket was opened. He was instructed to return the next day with his lawyer to provide a statement.
MRP president Mqondisi Moyo stated that Khanye was charged with contravening the Cyber Security Act. "A case was opened against Khanye based on a video circulating on social media showing him near the Nkulumane Complex area with a large knife. The accuser claimed that the individuals who filmed the video were seen entering Khanye's car," Moyo said. "It remains to be proven if these accusations are related to Khanye and his car."
Khanye reportedly spent the entire day at the police station, and the MRP had to provide transport as officers at Nkulumane Police Station lacked transport to take him to town. Represented by Nqobani Sithole of Abammeli Lawyers for Human Rights, Khanye was released around 5 PM.
However, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said he had not yet received a report regarding Khanye's arrest.
Recently, MRP activists launched an operation to raid apostolic sect shrines in Bulawayo's bushy areas, claiming these activities were alien to Matebeleland culture and tradition. The party ordered sect members to remove their ritual cloths and flags, asserting they violated local cultural norms and values.
The raids began in a bush between Barbourfields and Entumbane suburbs, where most of the shrines are located, and spread to other suburbs. The operation takes place every Wednesday. The MRP team destroyed the shrines, flags, and cloths found in the bushes after some sect members failed to remove their paraphernalia.
These raids, which began on April 24, have been ongoing since then, according to a statement released by the MRP information department yesterday.
Khanye was picked up at his workplace by officers from Bulawayo Central Police Station and was later released. The MRP stated, "Bulawayo Central Police picked up Khanye at his workplace to question him about the clean-up campaigns MRP has been conducting in Bulawayo in recent weeks."
Khanye was detained at the station from 8 AM and released after a docket was opened. He was instructed to return the next day with his lawyer to provide a statement.
Khanye reportedly spent the entire day at the police station, and the MRP had to provide transport as officers at Nkulumane Police Station lacked transport to take him to town. Represented by Nqobani Sithole of Abammeli Lawyers for Human Rights, Khanye was released around 5 PM.
However, Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said he had not yet received a report regarding Khanye's arrest.
Recently, MRP activists launched an operation to raid apostolic sect shrines in Bulawayo's bushy areas, claiming these activities were alien to Matebeleland culture and tradition. The party ordered sect members to remove their ritual cloths and flags, asserting they violated local cultural norms and values.
The raids began in a bush between Barbourfields and Entumbane suburbs, where most of the shrines are located, and spread to other suburbs. The operation takes place every Wednesday. The MRP team destroyed the shrines, flags, and cloths found in the bushes after some sect members failed to remove their paraphernalia.
Source - newsday
