Jailed Vapositori contest conviction, sentence FLASHBACK . . . Eleven of the 37 members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect have been jailed four years for assaulting the police, journalists and other people at their Budiriro shrine in May 2014
FLASHBACK . . . Eleven of the 37 members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect have been jailed four years for assaulting the police, journalists and other people at their Budiriro shrine in May

FLASHBACK . . . Eleven of the 37 members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect have been jailed four years for assaulting the police, journalists and other people at their Budiriro shrine in May

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Eleven members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu jailed recently for assaulting police and journalists in Budiriro have appealed against their four-year sentence. They filed their notice of appeal against conviction and sentence before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe. Their lawyer, Mr Tawanda Takaendesa, is arguing that the magistrate erred when he convicted his clients without evidence proving they committed the offence.

“The magistrate erred in convicting the appellants as the ones who assaulted the police yet mob justice was done to the extent that they did not manage to see who assaulted them. No proper identification was done.

“The sentence induces a sense of shock and another court is likely to interfere with the findings of the trial court,” he said.
The 11 are Kudzanayi Kusekwa (31), Cabson Chandaona (43), Tichafa Madyegora (41), Johannes Makumbe (39), Takavengwa Gwenzi (46), Ndumiso Moyo (33), Alexio Kanhema (37), Clement Chimutso (47), Madzimure Madzimure (36), Charles Matanga (42) and Darlington Mambayo (46).

They were sentenced two weeks ago to an effective four years in prison each after they were found guilty of assault.
They were initially sentenced to five years in prison, but one year was suspended for five years. The other 26 sect members were acquitted after the State failed to prove a case against them.

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