A prominent apostolic sect leader, popularly known as Madzibaba Enock, has been dragged before the courts after being charged with fraud and theft of trust property linked to the alleged disposal of church-owned assets.
The accused, Herbert Senda, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, where he was granted US$15 000 bail. As part of his release conditions, he was ordered to report to the police twice a week while investigations continue.
According to the State, the alleged offences date back to August 2017, when Senda is accused of misrepresenting himself as the owner of a residential stand in Budiriro. Prosecutors allege that the stand belonged to the housing co-operative of the Johane Masowe Echishanu–Nyenyedzi Nomwe sect, which Senda leads.
The court heard that Senda allegedly sold the stand to Munyaradzi Chaguta for US$10 000, receiving a US$2 400 deposit with the balance meant to be paid in monthly instalments. However, it is alleged that the same stand had already been allocated to another beneficiary, Tinashe Sithole, who had paid a development fee to the co-operative.
Prosecutor Desire Chidanhire told the court that the transaction resulted in financial prejudice to the housing co-operative, which reportedly lost US$4 751.
On a second count, Senda is accused of unlawfully selling a vehicle owned by the housing co-operative. The State alleges that Munodawafa Zambezi had exchanged his commuter omnibus for two residential stands following an agreement with the co-operative’s executive. The vehicle was allegedly placed in Senda’s custody, but he later sold it and converted the proceeds to personal use, causing a loss of US$10 000.
The case has drawn public attention due to Senda’s religious stature and the nature of the allegations, which involve assets entrusted to the church.
Senda is expected to return to court on March 1, as the matter proceeds to trial.