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Fungai Jachi Court Reporter
Two ZBC employees who were attacked by members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu at a shrine in Budiriro 3 recently, yesterday identified two sect members as perpetrators.
Relax Mafurutu and Tichaona Meza, a cameraman and reporter respectively, testified yesterday in the matter in which 37 apostolic sect members allegedly assaulted them together with police officers.

The 37 apostolic sect members appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe facing charges of assault and were remanded to November 6.

Mafurutu suffered fractures on both arms and was admitted at a local hospital for 10 days after the assault and identified Kudazanai Musekiwa (31) and Cabson Chandaona (43) as his assailants.

“When I sought refuge in our car, I recall seeing the two of you and others smashing the windows, pulling me out of the vehicle. You used batons to assault me that you had seized from the police,” he told the court.

Mafurutu said Musekiwa and Chandaona were part of the congregants that beat him and suffered fractures on both hands.

He went on leave for three months with plasters after the horrific incident.

The two accused persons denied the allegations.

In his testimony, Meza told the court that although he was not assaulted, he was certain that the apostles started the violence.

“The apostles started the violence when Archbishop Ndanga told them that their church had to be banned since they were abusing children and women by treating them as nonentities,” he said.

Ms Francisca Mukumbiri prosecuted.