Zimpapers Logo

Solange Dengu Court Reporter
The trial of Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa Mufani, who is facing allegations of inciting public violence against the police and journalists at his Budiriro shrine in Harare, was deferred to tomorrow by Harare magistrate Mr Milton Serima.The trial failed to continue as State witness Bishop Johannes Ndanga, who was supposed to testify, could not make it to court.

Prosecutor Mrs Francesca Mukumbiri said efforts were made to get hold of Bishop Ndanga but he could not be reached.

Madzibaba Mufani was nailed last week by chairman of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) Mr Lameck Chitope, who testified that it was him who assaulted him with his shepherd’s crook on the head.

Chitope (72) identified Mufani in video footage played in court.

Mufani was arrested at his rural home in Chigogodza Village, Musami in Murehwa in January this year after being on the run for seven months.

Eleven sect members who took part in the violence were each sentenced to an effective four years in prison in November last year.

Twenty-six others were acquitted after the State failed to prove a case against them.