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Mashonaland Central Bureau
FACTIONALISM has continued to rock the Johane Masowe eChishanhu Vadzidzi VaJesu Church, with patients at the Madziwa Shrine allegedly teaming up to evict one of the late Madzibaba Wimbo’s aides on Sunday morning.

One of the most senior members in the church, Mudzidzi Grasteji U, confirmed the incident and said Cosmas Hamadziripi Chihuri’s property was thrown out and dumped by the roadside by irate members who were accusing him of bad-mouthing the current church leadership, especially Mudzidzi Stabloni P (Ishmael Magodi).

“What we gathered is that a caretaker at the shrine, Munhuwese Lestiweji A (Wilson Makope) alleged that Cosmas was labelling the current leader, Stabloni P a Satanist and a wizard who had no moral rights to lead the church,” Mudzidzi Grasteji U said.

“The caretaker allegedly mobilised patients to evict him from the shrine and I understand they forced his wife out as he (Cosmas Hamadziripi) was not present.”

Cosmas’ wife, Mrs Honest Chihuri, also confirmed the eviction and said she was attacked while she was half-naked and in bed.

“I was in bed when the mob besieged my house,” she said.

“A curtain had to be used to shield me while I got properly dressed. They forcibly threw out our property, accusing my husband of undermining the church leadership’s authority.

“They forced me out saying the house belonged to the church.

“I had no option but to go to the police and make a report. They have been harassing us for a long time.

“They were at it again last August during one of our church gatherings when they besieged my house baying for my husband’s blood. Fortunately, he was not around and they force-marched some boys I was staying with to the church gathering where they assaulted them.”

Cosmas’ brother, Cramioj Chihuri, said patients under the instructions of Munhuwese had evicted his brother from his house.

“My brother was one of the late Mudzidzi Wimbo’s aides.

“He was very close to him and was told about some of the rites which the church should follow. This is being violated by some of the current leadership.

“The leadership wants to hijack the church and have resorted to using patients to attack my brother.

“There are a lot of issues happening at the shrine, but they are being kept under wraps. They want to eliminate all people who are principled,” he said.

Cramioj accused some of the church leaders of turning a blind eye to child abuse and early marriage cases being reported at the shrine.

“There is a school at the shrine and some girls are being abused. Some of them are being forced into early marriages. Some are being impregnated, while some are being exposed to sexually transmitted diseases,” he said.

However, Munhuwese insisted that he did not instigate Cosmas’ eviction as alleged.

He said fellow church members were irked by his attack of the church’s leadership and acted upon themselves to evict him.

“They accused Chihuri (Cosmas) of bad-mouthing the church leadership, especially Mudzidzi Stabloni P. I only preached to people who were gathered here, most of them being patients. It was that time when a fellow church member from Murehwa said he had heard Chihuri labelling our leader a Satanist and wizard.

“They accused the leadership of transgressing from the late Mudzidzi Wimbo’s teachings, yet Mudzidzi Stabloni P was anointed by Mudzidzi Wimbo to lead the church.

“At one time they deflated Mudzidzi Stabloni P’s vehicle and had to find refuge in Mazowe. There has been bad blood between the Chihuri siblings and the current church leadership.”

Mudzidzi Wimbo, who was also known as Mudzidzi Majinetsa, died last year at the age of 96.