Leaders of the Africa Apostolic Church (Mwazha) are seeking police protection for their upcoming annual meeting, which is scheduled to be officiated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on August 30, 2024, amid escalating factional conflicts within the church.
A faction led by Reverend Nyika Murisi has accused Ernest Mhambare and Kurauone Sibanda of disrupting preparations for the event by vandalizing toilets at the Ndarikure Shrine.
The group also alleges that on August 19, the two individuals fired shots at congregants who attempted to engage them at the shrine.
In response to these incidents, Murisi has formally written to Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, notifying him of the situation and requesting police protection.
The letter, drafted by Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, was also copied to the President, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya, as well as the Ministers of Home Affairs and Justice.
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Murisi emphasized that the church’s supreme leader, Archbishop Paul Mwazha, had granted them permission to hold the conference on August 30. The letter expresses concern that Mhambare, Sibanda, and their associates intend to cause chaos and disrupt the event, potentially threatening the peace in Zimbabwe.
The letter further details the August 19 incident, stating that Sibanda and his co-accused brought heavy machinery to the shrine and demolished several functioning Blair toilets in an attempt to prevent the gathering. They allegedly dug trenches across roads leading to the shrine to block access and fired a firearm to disperse church members who were there for preparatory work.
Murisi believes that the conflict has political undertones, given that President Mnangagwa will be the guest of honor at the event. The lawyers argue that this makes it essential for police to provide security during the conference.
The letter also suggests that Mhambare, Sibanda, and their faction may be sympathetic to political actors opposed to President Mnangagwa, which could explain their attempts to disrupt the event. The faction is accused of misusing a court order obtained against another group unrelated to Murisi’s faction to justify their actions.
Despite Archbishop Mwazha’s consent for the gathering, Mhambare and his associates are allegedly trying to stop it without legal grounds. As a result, Murisi’s faction is requesting police protection during the event, scheduled from August 30 to September 1, 2024.
Additionally, the lawyers noted that they plan to rebuild the destroyed toilets and install the necessary facilities to ensure the conference proceeds smoothly.
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