News / National
'Ndanga wanted to be Mujuru's vice president'
21 Apr 2015 at 15:13hrs | Views
Madzibaba Ishamea Mufani yesterday said Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) president Johannes Ndanga was bitter because the cleric refused to conduct prayers for him to become Zimbabwe's vice president.
Mufani is being charged with public violence after members of his sect attacked journalists, police officers and ACCZ officials who had gone to shut down his church over allegations of child and women abuse.
Testifying as the first defence witness, Mufani narrated how Ndanga tried to lure his sect into politics. "Police officers were sent with a message summoning us to ACCZ offices in 2013," he said. "When we got there, we went into Ndanga's office and there were three portraits in the order of President Robert Mugabe, then-VP Joice Mujuru and Ndanga, respectively.
"Ndanga told us to prepare because he was going to reveal classified information. He told us that Mugabe was about to resign and Mujuru would take over as president while he becomes her deputy."
Ndanga then requested for prayers, the court heard.
"He also told us that getting into power would correct the aspect that this country had been led by people who did not believe in God. He said it was high time God-fearing people ruled Zimbabwe," Mufani added.
Mufani said his relationship with ACCZ became sour after he refused to offer the prayers.
He told Ndanga that he could not be lured into praying for something that "God" had not instructed him.
Mufani queried why witnesses who testified during the case never mentioned him as one of the perpetrators. At least 11 of his members have been jailed.
"According to the record of proceedings 5901/14, it was never mentioned that I was present on the day in question. Witnesses are now lying that they saw me at the shrine," he said.
"God knows I was not present on the day in question. These allegations were fabricated just because I refused to pray for Ndanga," said an emotional Mufani as he chocked with emotion in court.
Prosecutor Fransisca Mkumbiri alleged that charges against Mufani arose on May 30 last year when an entourage led by Ndanga, that included police officers and journalists, was beaten up by the Vapositori.
The congregants challenged the ACCZ leader to read his speech in Shona, claiming they were not familiar with English.
Ndanga then ordered police to arrest one of the congregants who kept interjecting as he read the speech.
Other congregants then began singing the song Umambo hwepfumo neropa, before all male congregants armed with shepherd's crooks charged towards the "trespassers" and assaulted them.
Mufani is being charged with public violence after members of his sect attacked journalists, police officers and ACCZ officials who had gone to shut down his church over allegations of child and women abuse.
Testifying as the first defence witness, Mufani narrated how Ndanga tried to lure his sect into politics. "Police officers were sent with a message summoning us to ACCZ offices in 2013," he said. "When we got there, we went into Ndanga's office and there were three portraits in the order of President Robert Mugabe, then-VP Joice Mujuru and Ndanga, respectively.
"Ndanga told us to prepare because he was going to reveal classified information. He told us that Mugabe was about to resign and Mujuru would take over as president while he becomes her deputy."
Ndanga then requested for prayers, the court heard.
"He also told us that getting into power would correct the aspect that this country had been led by people who did not believe in God. He said it was high time God-fearing people ruled Zimbabwe," Mufani added.
Mufani said his relationship with ACCZ became sour after he refused to offer the prayers.
Mufani queried why witnesses who testified during the case never mentioned him as one of the perpetrators. At least 11 of his members have been jailed.
"According to the record of proceedings 5901/14, it was never mentioned that I was present on the day in question. Witnesses are now lying that they saw me at the shrine," he said.
"God knows I was not present on the day in question. These allegations were fabricated just because I refused to pray for Ndanga," said an emotional Mufani as he chocked with emotion in court.
Prosecutor Fransisca Mkumbiri alleged that charges against Mufani arose on May 30 last year when an entourage led by Ndanga, that included police officers and journalists, was beaten up by the Vapositori.
The congregants challenged the ACCZ leader to read his speech in Shona, claiming they were not familiar with English.
Ndanga then ordered police to arrest one of the congregants who kept interjecting as he read the speech.
Other congregants then began singing the song Umambo hwepfumo neropa, before all male congregants armed with shepherd's crooks charged towards the "trespassers" and assaulted them.
Source - dailynews
