Catechists in the Archdiocese of Harare will soon be empowered with the syllabus to guide them in their pastoral work.

 The Catechists Syllabus which will encompass every aspect the Catechists in the Archdiocese should use in their work from the day one decides to be a Catholic that includes Theology, Christology, Pneumatology and the Social Teachings of the Church is expected among other things to widen the knowledge of the teachers of faith and even those they teach.

Fr Kambire, the Archdiocese Pastoral Vicar described the importance of the document saying it enables catechists from different areas to teach the same thing which for the past years was not observed.

“As our Pastoral Plan entails, we should all do the same thing in the whole diocese as one family. To that effect, we realized that all along Catechists in different areas have been teaching what they wanted and what they thought was important but now we want everyone to do the same thing all over”, said Fr Kambire.

“Without a Syllabus one cannot plan and come up with objectives, desired outcomes hence it will be difficult to evaluate their lessons. I realized that some of them do not plan what they want to teach, so we want them to plan their lessons, to use/have learning Aids and enable catechumens to participate actively during catechesis.  Finally catechists will be able to manage their time”, said Sr. Demetria Purazi LCBL.

The syllabus is expected to boost the work of the teachers of faith and catechists will be furnished with workshops that will enable them to interpret the document, do lesson planning and objective evaluation.

The syllabus is still in draft form and will be presented to the Archbishop for approval and endorsement then from there it will be published and publicized for use.

“Christ is the chief catechists; he taught his disciples how to pray. He opened the eyes of the blind physically and spiritually. In Luke 24:13-35, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about him. So as catechists, we look up to his guidance”, ended Sr. Demetria.

About  5 000 enthusiastic Catholics in the Archdioceses Harare gathered at St Peter’s Kubatana on the 11^th of May 2014 for their  first ever event in the Archdiocese that all elderly  guilds (Zvitazvevakuru) men and women gather as one family praying focusing much on the Pastoral challenges to the family in the context of new evangelization.

All arch-zvita congress was the first ever combined adult guild event that was organized by Mr. Gweme the Arch Zvita Council Chairman and his team, top boards, the Spiritual Director Fr Muguti and Spiritual Advisor, Sr DemetriaPurazi LCBL.

The most exciting aspect was the march from Machinist shopping centre to the venue. None could hide the fact that Roman Catholic Church is a church that has foundation laid. Confidence and enthusiasm prevailed in the congregation as they walked in the suburbs of Highfields. This really showed that people embraced the idea of the gathering and were proud of being Catholics as the primary objective basically and not as Zvita which is secondary objective.

Mr. Magadzire, one of the organizing team members, quoted Archbishop Ndlovu in his letter to the conference that “having this combined guild conference is a sign of demonstrating unity in diversity, utilizing the rich Sacred Tradition in the church in devotions imitating great Saints, men and women who walked this path before us following Jesus Christ hence our objective of is to pray and evangelize regardless of belonging to different guilds” he said.

“You are involved in continual Catechesis and renewal, which ties in neatly with this year’s Pastoral challenges of New Evangelization in the Families.  Kupinda muchita kunokupai mukana wekuramba muchivandudzwa muchitendero nekuramba muchidzidza, semuyedzwa, mukusanangana kwenyu senhengo pamisangano yenyu yesvondo rogaroga, uyepamazuvamakuru, munowana zvidzidzo zvakawanda.Chita rupenyu rwekunamata, kuteerera shoko raMwari nekuita mabasa etsitsi. Guilds have excellent communication channels, which are the envy of some organizations in the Archdiocese”, said the archbishop.

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Harare, Most Rev. R. C Ndlovu expressed his grief over the modern families especially in matters of their faith and how they relate to each other within and outside the family in this era of new evangelization in the church.

The Archbishop was speaking to thousands of Catechists from the Archdiocese of Harare who had their congress from the 1^st to the 4^th of May 2014 at St Paul Musami. Delivering a talk entitled, ‘Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of New Evangelization’, the Archbishop led the participants through a comparative analysis of the traditional life and contemporary life and juxtaposed the two and muckraked what is missing in today’s family which a pastoral worker like a catechist should do or not to do in a bid to help these emerging families of today.

“We used to talk of a husband, wife and children when we talk of a family but now it’s no longer that. We now have single parented families; some children are now looking for themselves for their upbringing which in the yesteryear was a rare situation. Grandparents have become the parents of the modern children because real parents are no more. New evangelization is giving us a challenge as teachers of faith to find ways how we can help these families and make sure they are not quarantined from the whole congregation due to their statuses”, said the Archbishop.

His Grace warned to observe deeply in each and everyone’s background before judging if the person should be exempted from some duties, responsibilities and obligations in the church one of them being the sacrament of Eucharist.

“Some single parents might have been left by their spouses who went to Diaspora and gone for good before they receive the sacrament of Matrimony or a husband might have died before the two receive the latter sacrament. Should we say these people must not receive the sacrament of Eucharist with the background of such situation? What of our children getting unplanned pregnancies, should we not baptize the child?

The problem with us is that, we are quick to condemn. We make ourselves judges and bad ones for that matter. Let’s find ways of helping these emerging families as catechists for the better of the church”, he added.

Archbishop Ndlovu also expressed his worries and fear with the rate at which the mass media, peer pressure and social media are widening the gap between parents and their children. He argued that nowadays, parents and children no longer have time together and the family union has become weak in the modern world. He added that mentorship of today’s children has shifted from the parents and they now follow what the press is saying, what they see on television and what they tell each other on social platforms. This deteriorates the relationship between children and parents. He also pointed this cause as leading to different faiths within one family which is a big challenge the Church is facing.

“Back then, faith was passed from one generation to the other and we used to follow our parents’ faith by default but now our young people believe in what they hear, see and read on social media and the influence of their peers”, he said.

The Archbishop urged all parents not to leave their children home when they go to church. He also made calls for the Catechists to have a Christ like attitude towards the faithful especially those encountering some difficulties in their faith and challenged the local Church to have a Family Desk in each Diocese or even parishes which is then equipped to deal with matters arising from the modern family trends.

Mixed marriages, HIV/AIDS, lobolla, traditional beliefs and influence of extended families are some of the issues addressed during his talk. 

The Youth in the Archdiocese of Harare on Saturday the 10^th of May celebrated the local World Youth Day (WYD) at Mbare Netball Complex.

The event which ran under the theme, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit for the Kingdom of God is theirs” (Matthew 5:3) drew over a thousand young people from all parishes in the Archdiocese especially the urban part.

In his theme talk presentation, Fr Mashayamombe from All Souls Mission reminded the youth of the importance of prayer in one’s life and how they can be the poor in spirit for them to attain the Kingdom of God. He unpacked to the gathering that for them to be called sons and daughters of God they need to show that they poor spiritually and this can only be seen through persistent praying.

He also made reference to 2 Corinthians 1: 9 which says, “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” He added that even if people are in the midst of trouble and facing death, when they pray, the Lord hears their cry.“If anyone suffered heartbreak, they can tell you that it is that time one does not understand what is around you, when everything seems meaningless and tasteless, when you even oppose the weather. But what then do you do with such a situation? That’s when your poverty in spirit should be shown. Kneel down and ask for a blessing from God. Pray as if it’s your last day on earth and the Lord will surely answer you”, he reiterated on the need for prayer.

The event provided a platform for those who went to Brazil in 2013 to share their experiences and for WYD Task Force to air out what is required for the 2016 celebrations to be hosted by Poland.

The day was concluded with the celebration of Mass led by Fr Maganga, the Archdiocese Youth and Vocations Spiritual Director. 

The Jesuit Education Apostolate, whose office supports the running and functioning of 18 schools (primary, secondary and a tertiary college), has launched the Jesuit Graduate Teacher Development Programme. This is a Post Graduate Programme that targets high school teachers in Jesuit schools that have a first teaching degree but do not have a teacher professional qualification.

This is a 2 year programme that will include practice based learning, Ignatian Pedagogical learning, mentorship and educational research in addition to the UNISA PGCE Curriculum. Ten Jesuit – Beit Scholars were selected by school Heads in consultation with their Rectors or Jesuit Superiors to receive the Jesuit – Beit Trust Scholarships for the studies.

Speaking at the introductory workshop for School Heads Mentors and the Scholars, the Education Delegate, Fr Joe Arimoso SJ stressed the need for Jesuit Schools to entrench the characteristics of Jesuit Education in their practice.

“Jesuit Schools in Zimbabwe are consciously responding the realities of 21st Century Teaching and Learning. Today’s learners learn interactively, learning mostly on their own and teachers are confronted with classrooms that need learning environments that are self-organized, interactive and tolerant of different learning styles” He said.

“This programme will ensure that teachers in our schools have skills that facilitate 21st century learning themes such as   collaborative learning, relevant communication skills, Creative Thinking Skills, Critical Thinking Skills, which are Ignatian in nature”. Concluding the Jesuit Graduate Teacher Development programme is one way of equipping Teachers in Jesuit Schools with necessary skills that make them relevant as practitioners in the era of 21st Century Teaching and Learning.

Mr. Colbert Mpofu, the Project Coordinator at the Jesuit Province Education Office was also pleased that the programme had taken off and was quick to say that this was a beginning of a long term Continued Professional Development programme for teachers in Jesuit Schools.

“This programme is particularly important for the Province and the Assistancy as a whole in that in addition to the mainstream Teacher Education Curriculum, we are for the first time formalizing training and the formation of teachers in Ignatian Pedagogy and Ignatian Spirituality”.

“This is just a beginning and we hope that this programme will grow and provide us with long term Teacher Retention plans that will supply teachers who have been formed in the ideals of Jesuit Education for our schools.”

The Graduate Teacher Development Programme falls under Key Result Area 8 of “Unlocking the Future: The Jesuit Education Recovery and Development Programme in Zimbabwe”. Of the 15 key result areas for this programme, the Jesuit Province Education Office is currently active in nine Result Areas and continuously seeks for support and assistance in implementing the other result areas.

Zion Christian Church (ZCC)’s Bishop Peter Makamba, who was recently arrested on charges of raping his married maid, was further assaulted by the victim’s husband who got enraged by a local court’s decision to release the clergyman.

Makamba appeared before resident magistrate Richard Chineka but was released in as yet  unclear circumstances.

Police spokesperson Charity Mazula confirmed the arrest of the bishop but said his release by the magistrate “is something beyond the police’s jurisdiction”.

Sources close to the case revealed that Makamba, who is the bishop for ZCC popularly known as “Zion retambo”, allegedly raped the married woman he employed as a maid.

Makamba was picked up by police at his home in Marecha near Negovano Business Centre under Chief Mazungunye and spent the weekend in the police holding cells at Bikita Police Station.

It is alleged that Makamba raped the woman while she was in his employ during dates unknown to the court but which span between 2005 and 2009.

The woman decided to lay charges against him after realising it was possible to get him prosecuted for the violations when she read about disgraced clergy, Robert Martin Gumbura.

Gumbura, the leader of the RMG End Time Messages church, was recently incarcerated for 40 years on charges of raping congregants.

Makamba briefly appeared before Magistrate Chineka and was declared a free man much to the chagrin of his accuser’s husband who later charged towards the bishop and assaulted him, accusing him of bribing the court.

The infuriated husband argued that Makamba was supposed to be released after applying for bail at the High Court.

The bishop has since filed assault charges against his assailant.

Several police officers were on Friday seriously injured in a brawl with members of the Johane Masowe apostolic sect in the high-density suburb of Budiriro 2 in Harare.

Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe president Johannes Ndanga, in the company of anti-riot police, had gone to the Madzibaba Ishmael-led shrine seeking to enforce a ban on the church for alleged abuse of women and children.

The visit resulted in a physical confrontation between members of the church and the police, and the latter had to flee.

The injured police officers were rushed to hospital to receive treatment for various injuries.

Also injured was a ZBC TV cameraman.

For some reason, I have always shelved discussing the ever increasing incidents of Zimbabweans being found in possession of serpents in their homes or vehicles. Early this year, a woman driving a pricey car dropped a giant dead python by the roadside in Harare’s Borrowdale area. To me, it was some remote issue with mythical overtones and explainable in many ways.

However, I am compelled to chew over the matter after my experience in the capital last Wednesday. A smartly dressed gentleman approached me as I sat in the serenity of Botanical Gardens. He had a foreign accent and indicated that I was highly favoured to have an encounter with him. Being thirsty for information, I had to strike a balance between risking involvement with a professional conman and acquisition of vital information. I gave the sweet-talking man audience against my better judgment for half an hour.

In brief, it turned out, the man was one of the new breed of ‘doctors’ with advertising stickers everywhere selling money-spinning juju. He spoke in the most enticing and glowing terms even leaving me his ‘business’ cards. He had rings selling for $50, which, according to him, would bring the buyer a fortune. Now, what further shocked me was his repeated statement that the rings were infinitely ‘safer’ as compared to snakes which he noted were a troublesome way of spinning money.

This issue, brethren, of Zimbabweans being found in possession of serpents is fast becoming a norm. Hardly a month passes without something of the sort being reported in the media. Shortly before the Borrowdale woman story, the month of February saw a mamba and a dead python being found at the gate of a certain house in New Lobengula, Bulawayo. In March, scores of residents mobbed a house in Chitungwiza, Unit E after a serpent had allegedly escaped from a room.

Sometime last year in Harare, the driver of a spanking brand new Toyota Hilux dropped a huge snake at the Copa Cabana rank and crushed it as he sped off. The media recently covered the shocking story of a Gweru woman who wept uncontrollably after her slithering reptile was crushed by a bus. Some business people have struggled to extricate themselves from any wrongdoing after the unhomely creatures were found in their vehicles.

It has been the case in most instances that most alleged snake owners have battled to dissociate themselves from the scary creatures after they were found in their vicinities. The Borrowdale woman is reported to have left in a jiffy after dropping the enormous dead reptile. Some have tried to hide behind the façade of the reptiles having strayed into their yards.

Others have claimed that engine heat might have attracted the cold blooded creatures after the vehicles were parked. Innumerable reasons have been thrown forward in attempts to explain away the inexplicable presence of the scary reptiles in human homes. However, the Gweru woman surprised all and sundry when she made no secret of owning the serpent. People stood astounded as the woman breathed fire demanding that she be given back her snake alive by the bus driver.

While a variety of explanations have been proffered to explain the snake-craze, it is apparent that there is more to it than meets the eye. The matter boils down to a deadly cancer that has filtered into our society, namely instant-gratification. People no longer want to adhere to the Biblical principle of eating from the brow of one’s sweat to acquire wealth. It would appear that Zimbabweans have taken a leaf from quick-fix juju approaches synonymous with African movies in pursuance of luxury. People want it here-and-now. Against Biblical precepts, people are now at home with wealth acquired through unnatural means.

What is even more disturbing is that this quick-fix syndrome has not only permeated the secular world but it has also wriggled its way into the supposed Christian churches. Everywhere you go everything is now marked by the word instant. Whether houses, cars or babies the watchword now is instant. The Biblical truth is that, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labour shall increase.” (Proverbs 13:11) It appears we have become people who are bent on driving the slickest cars and living in the leafiest suburbs at whatever cost. It is common place to find men as young as 23 living the dream and owning mansions today courtesy of these super natural means.

My friends, “Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked, whatsoever a man sows, the same shall he reap.”(Gal 6:7) When God said, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat” (Gen 3:19) he meant exactly that. These instant quick fix ideologies are of the Evil One’s making. It is a mockery of that which God commanded for anyone to acquire wealth they never labored for. It is really the making of Satan in his typical opposition to GOD to provide people with antagonistic alternatives to Biblical principles. There are no shortcuts to what God commanded. You work first then you thrive. Wealth without work is the devil’s principle.

Zimbabwe police have arrested members of Johanne Masowe eChishanu Apostolic sect who attacked and injured police officers and journalist on Friday, in Budiriro 2, Harare.

Twenty members of the church are said to be detained in police station after being arrested over the weekend and are expected to appear in court today.

Last Friday police led by Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe president Johannes Ndanga, had gone to the Madzibaba Ishmael-led shrine seeking to enforce a ban on the church for alleged abuse of women and children. ACCZ president Archbishop Johannes Ndanga had earlier announced that the sect had been banned from operating in Zimbabwe because it violated national and Christian laws.

Bishop Ndanga’s organisation accused the church of denying children of school going age access to education, severe abuse of church congregants and their families or relatives.

But events took a twist when police, journalists and Ndanga found themselves on the receiving end, bashed with knobkerries, sticks and stones leading to some injuries.

Among the injured was ZBC camera person Relax Mafurutu still admitted at West End Hospital, with his condition said to be stable.

Injured police officers were treated and discharged, but Archbishop Ndanga escaped the attack by quickly speeding off in his Range Rover and escaped the mob that was baying for his blood.

The mayhem that happened in Harare’s Budiriro high-density suburb on Friday as marauding members of the Johane Masowe weChishanu sect ran riot, beating up anti-riot police officers, journalists and Johannes Ndanga-led Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) officials is a sad reminder of a country at crossroads.

Zimbabwe’s economy is stagnant and multitudes of people are seeking solace in churches where they have unknowingly been abused without recourse – itself a sad development.

The sad reality is that if this one incident is not quickly contained it can replicate and manifest itself in various forms given that these people have in the past been used by Zanu PF to further its interests, especially during election periods. The majority are tired of political abuse by those in power hence people might sympathise with them and continue to undermine the authority of the police.

Zimbabweans will now watch with keen interests how Zanu PF will react to this dastard behaviour by multitudes of its followers who always grace its major rallies especially as they reacted angrily to the police force.

The Budiriro incident should not be taken in isolation as most politicians, among them President Robert Mugabe, Vice-President Joice Mujuru, Zanu PF political commissar Webster Shamu and politburo member Ignatius Chombo, among others have in the past graced their sermons seeking divine intervention in their waning political fortunes.

This level of lawlessness has gone viral such that when church members, who according to Biblical principles, are supposed to be messengers of peace become wild and bludgeon law enforcement agents, it becomes suspect.

Zimbabweans do not have short memories — they may have an idea of why this apostolic sect bashed people injuring nine police officers, two ZBC staffers and one ACCZ official Lameck Chitope.

Ndanga told journalists after the melee that his ACCZ and the police had gone to the shrine to enforce a ban after reports of human rights abuses in the church involving denial of children’s educational rights and allegations of fathers allowed to inspect their daughters’ virginity using their fingers, among a host of other issues.

While it is important for the police to contain lawlessness in the country, the law enforcement agents should investigate the root cause of this act. Is this apostolic sect a member of Ndanga’s ACCZ?

If not where is Ndanga deriving the authority to regulate other apostolic sects? Is Ndanga’s apostolic church entirely clean?

Zimbabweans do not condone Madzibaba Eshmael’s sect alleged human rights abuses, but one would want to believe that most apostolic sects have lived like that for many years because of their link to Zanu PF. They have committed human rights abuses too numerous to mention.

The country is reminded of the late Godfrey Nzira also of the same sect, late Zanu PF political commissar Border Gezi, Elliot Manyika, who always surrounded themself with the apostolic sects and of course Lawrence Katsiru, a top Zanu PF official and party Mashonaland East commisar, who was arrested for alleged human rights abuses similar to the ones labeled against this Budiriro sect.

Could it be that the Budiriro sect is now being victimised because its leader is now deemed excess to requirements or what?

This is why the police must investigate the matter and let the law take its course in an impartial manner.

Christians have condemned the burning and destruction of property at an apostolic shrine in Budiriro 2 by alleged Zanu Pf youths led by a police officer in uniform in retaliation for the violent attack on nine police officers and journalists by the sect members last Friday.

The youths raided and burned the shrine of Johane Masowe weChishanu leader Madzibaba Ishamel Mufani and destroyed all fabrics and clay pots they found on the site.

Speaking to RelZim, Rudo Chengeta, a catholic said Zimbabwe as a largely Christian community should learn to forgive each other. “I am not in support of what Madzibaba did but then violence can not be repaid by violence,” she said.

Chengeta said she was shocked that the youths decided to take the law into their own hands and destroy property used by the sect for worshipping.

Mabel Chirara added and said that politicization of religion in Zimbabwe needed to be addressed as it fuelled violence in churches.

“Selective application of the law is very dangerous in any society and politicians should avoid bringing their politics to church. The youths also demonstrated violence but nothing has been done to them. The youths do not have the mandate to punish anyone and it is sad considering that not all sect members were violent last Friday.”

Tawanda Mombeyarara an analyst said, “It is sad that Christianity in Zimbabwe had been politicized. The visit by Ndanga with police in riot gear in itself shows that there was something really wrong from the start and the violence could have been avoided.

“From past experiences like the Anglican saga where some members of the CPA where attacked by those affiliated to the Kunonga faction it is clear that political parties have a role to play in some of the feuds among Christians.”

The Apostolic sect ran amok last Friday after being addressed by Bishop Johannes Ndanga from Apostolic churches council of Zimbabwe ACCZ who banned the church for alleged human rights abuses.

Twenty-four Johanne Masowe eChishanu Apostolic sect members accused of assaulting police officers and journalists, have been remanded in custody by a Harare court which felt their immediate release would expose them to a violent public backlash.

Emmanuel Sigauke and 23 others, all followers of Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani, were arrested on Sunday for public violence. They all deny the charges.

The group was Tuesday brought to court under armed police escort and in leg irons. They were later remanded in custody to June 16.

They all made assault complaints against the police who allegedly fired rifles in the air during their arrests.

“When l was arrested, l was beaten up and was denied food. I only ate today when l was being brought to court,” said Sigauke in a complaint that was repeated by the rest of the group.

Francisca Mukumbiri, representing the State, did not oppose the granting of bail which elicited a strong rebuke from the presiding magistrate Vakai Chikwekwete who accused the prosecutor of “blowing hot and cold” in his handling of the widely publicised matter.

On Monday the State had ironically opposed bail when the first batch of four accused sect members appeared in court facing similar charges.

“What kind of professionalism is that?” Chikwekwete asked when the State had failed to explain why it was treating the two groups differently.

Chikwekwete said the group had made serious allegations of police assaults in his court and were ordinarily supposed to be medically examined by a government doctor who could only perform this while they were in custody.

He added: “The court is of the contrary view that the granting of bail at this stage will not only jeopardise the interest of this case but will put the accused in danger.

“In short, the court is of the view that the release of the accused at this stage may cause public outcry. We will relook at this case on the 16th of June.”

All hell broke loose when angry sect members on Friday ran amok and clubbed a group of riot cops who had accompanied Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) president Bishop Johannes Ndanga to enforce a ban on the controversial sect.

Leaders of the sect were being accused forcibly marrying out their young offspring to older members and denying them education.

Shocking images of sect members, clad in their white robes, bashing police officers were splashed in local newspapers and on social media platforms Friday.

The state says nine police officers and two ZBC journalists were injured in the attack.

Zanu PF youths on Monday staged a march to the now abandoned shrine where they burnt garments and smashed clay pots and other paraphernalia they used for their rituals.

In yesterday’s NewsDay, we carried a story titled: Zanu PF youths burn Vapostori shrine, in which it was reported that the youths, led by the party’s provincial youth chairperson Godwin Gomwe, burned the shrine of the apostolic sect that beat up riot police last week.

The youths were “avenging” the beating-up of the police. To the misguided Zanu PF youths, two wrongs make a right.

The story, sadly, was accompanied by a picture which shows a policeman, more like an activist, with a triumphant smile, leading the youths as they were toyi-toying towards the shrine to commit the arson.

This incident shows the sad state of law enforcement in this country engendered by political partisanship.

Where in the world would you find a professional police force accompanying rowdy thugs to commit arson?

It does not take anyone with a modicum of knowledge of the law to reason that if the shrine was the hub of criminal activity as we are made to believe, then destroying it is akin to destroying evidence.

But the ignorant Zanu PF youths, under the protection of the equally ignorant and partisan members of our police force, bragged through Gomwe: “The police are sent by the ruling party which we call government. Security forces are Zanu PF.”

Such warped thinking has drawn our country back by a couple of centuries.

It is this kind of thinking and lawlessness allowed by the Zanu PF government that has retarded development in this country.

And the leader of the shrine has already been convicted and sentenced by the youths who are allowed to take the law into their own hands: “Ishmael must leave this country. To make matters worse, he beat up security forces and a journalist. It’s unlawful. We don’t want to see them here, never again,” charged the ignorant youths.

In the first place, it has not been proved that Ishmael participated in the violence by his church members.

In the second place, the misguided youths do not see the irony of their actions — committing acts of arson and possibly destroying evidence.

If this sect was involved in criminal activities, why were the members not arrested if there is evidence and witnesses to incriminate them?

Our suspicions are also raised when the head of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe, Johannes Ndanga, revels in the politicisation of a criminal issue.

He was quoted yesterday saying: “No one has the right to push us out in discharging our duties. We came here with your party [Zanu PF] because you invited us as you are in solidarity with our fight against human rights violation so we couldn’t shun you.”

We understand Ndanga is a Christian and as Christians, we are made to understand not to condone any form of violence or any form of revenge, so what was he doing encouraging Zanu PF thugs to commit arson?

Why can’t he let the police handle these criminal issues in a professional manner?

We do not condone violence, but neither do we condone acts where people break the law in pursuit of justice.

Twenty-four members of the Johanne Masowe weChishanu apostolic sect arrested last Sunday on allegations of being part of a group involved in violent skirmishes with the police in Budiriro, Harare, yesterday claimed they were tortured and detained for over two days without food before they being brought to court.

The 24 are part of the 27 sect members so far brought to court on charges of assaulting police officers and journalists following a raid at their shrine last Friday.

They appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe yesterday facing charges of public violence.

Their three alleged accomplices appeared in court on Monday and were remanded in custody to June 16.

The accused claimed that although they never resisted arrest, they were denied food and severely battered by the law enforcement agents while in police cells.

Said one of the suspects Emmanuel Sigauke: “I was assaulted by the police officers upon arrest and was also denied food. I only ate today on our way to court.”

Tichafa Madyegora raised the same complaint, adding that he received a severe beating on his ears and had since developed hearing problems.

“I was assaulted in such a manner that I have developed hearing problems. As I speak, I can hardly hear with my other ear since the assault, I started hearing with the other a short while ago,” Madyegora said.

The unrepresented accused appeared in court shackled in leg irons and handcuffs.

The court remanded them in custody to June 16 and ordered that they should be medically examined to ascertain the alleged torture claims.

After noting down the accused’s complaints, Chikwekwe remanded them in custody to June 16 and ordered the State to investigate the allegations raised against the police.

Chikwekwe later castigated the Prosecutor-General’s Office for being unprofessional after State counsel Francesca Mukumbiri said she was not opposed to the granting of bail to the suspects, hardly 12 hours after denying bail to the other sect members.

“I am surprised that the State is not being professional, it is blowing hot and cold at the same time. Less than 12 hours ago, the same State strongly opposed bail against members of the same church facing similar allegations, but now turns around and consents to bail, why is that so?” Chikwekwe queried.

“I am of the view that it will not be in the interest of justice to grant the accused persons bail at this juncture as this will endanger their safety. And further to that, releasing the accused persons will cause chaos and public outcry.”

Allegations against all the accused are that on May 30 this year they participated in the attack on 26 police officers, journalists and officials from the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe led by Bishop Johannes Ndanga following the latter three groups’ arrival at their shrine in Budiriro 2.

Police had escorted Ndanga to close the shrine and ban the church over allegations of gross abuse of women and children’s rights.

See related reading:

24 Vapostori cop bashers denied bail

Lawyers yesterday called for the arrest of Zanu PF youths who destroyed artefacts at Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani’s Johane Masowe Echishanu shrine in Budiriro on Monday.

Human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama said the youths should face charges of malicious damage to property as they violated the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act by destroying the artefacts.

“This is lawlessness. The youths should be arrested for malicious damage to property,” he said.

Muchadehama said Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (AACZ) president Bishop Johannes Ndanga should also be held as an accomplice as he was said to have been present when the artefacts were destroyed.

He said police should not have acted in a manner which showed revenge over their battering by members of the sect.

Nine police officers, two journalists and an ACCZ official were injured last Friday after they were assaulted by marauding members of the sect who were protesting an ACCZ decision to ban their sect over allegations of human rights abuses.

“Police were supposed to investigate, arrest and bring them [sect members] to court than resort to tit-for-tat behaviour,” Muchadehama said.

Another lawyer, Jessie Majome, criticised the police for allegedly escorting the youths who were committing a crime. “They were supposed to get a court order to destroy the property. What they did with the Zanu PF youths was unlawful. This was totally a form of punishment,” Majome said.

A non-governmental organisation, Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT), also weighed in saying the “sudden involvement of political party cadres in the dispute serves no one, but has the potential to escalate the conflict and violence”.

“Destruction of property is a form of violence that is offensive and is equally bad as the beating up of police and journalists. No violence is good or better,” HZT said in a statement yesterday.

Lawyer Obert Gutu said authorities should act on the Zanu PF youths or risk the country becoming a “banana republic.”

He said the use of party youths by the police was tantamount to the privatisation of the force into an armed militia of a political organisation.

“So the police have found it fit and proper to sub-contract and hire a bunch of Zanu PF hooligans, thugs and hoodlums to deal with Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani’s apostolic sect?” he asked.

Analyst Alexander Rusero said the demonstration by Zanu PF youths was stage-managed.

NewsDay readers also condemned the destruction of the artefacts.

“The youths had no right to destroy Madzibaba Ishmael’s property, they should be arrested and charged with malicious damage to property and also the police who led the youths to Madzibaba’s shrine should be arrested as well,” a reader, Onismus Sithole, said.

Nelson Mhlanga said it was unheard of for police to lead a group of youths to burn a shrine.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said anyone with complaints over the destruction of their property should make a report to the police to allow investigations to take place.

The police, still smarting from last Friday’s embarrassing beating of a handful of their number by a Harare vapostori sect, upped their pay-back campaign by arresting a sect member over a cheeky prank which went viral online.

Madzibaba Chacha – a tailor in Harare’s Westlea – was arrested Thursday and remained in custody overnight with police officers said to be scratching their heads on what charges to bring against him.

His offence was to put on a ZRP shirt and post the pictures on social networking sites such as Facebook with the sassy caption “If you can beat them, join them too”.

The prank supposedly poked fun at the beating last week of riot police who accompanied Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) officials on a mission to ban the Johane Masowe WeChishanu sect led by Madzibaba Ishamel Mufani shrine in the capital’s Budirio 2 suburb.

A police officer is said to have taken his uniform to Madzibaba Chacha for alterations only for the tailor to use the livery for his mocking prank.

ZRP honchos did not think it funny and had him arrested.

Meanwhile, more than 20 members of the Budiriro sect have since been arrested on suspicions of involvement in last Friday’s cop attack.

They were refused bail early this week with Harare magistrate, Vakai Chikwekwete, arguing that “granting of bail at this stage will not only jeopardise the interest of this case but will put the accused in danger.

“In short, the court is of the view that the release of the accused at this stage may cause public outcry. We will relook at this case on the 16th of June.”

Following the skirmishes, a group of Zanu PF youths, accompanied by the police, descended on the group’s shrine and desecrated the place.

Members of the Apostolic sects Saturday snubbed the burial of Zanu PF politburo member and former Cabinet minister Nathan Shamuyarira at the national Heroes’ Acre in Harare.

Only a handful of them turned up to listen to President Robert Mugabe officiating at the event.

Usually, the Vapositori, who are well-known for their support of Mugabe’s Zanu PF party would pack State funerals, turning their section of the national shrine into a sea of white with their religious attire.

The Standard could not immediately establish whether the poor attendance from the men of the cloth yesterday was a show of solidarity with fellow sect members who are currently locked up in prison for assaulting police officers in Harare last week, or whether it was out of fear of arrest.

The bays at the national shrine that had become traditionally theirs were yesterday empty.

Over 30 members of the Johanne Masowe weChishanu apostolic sect led by one Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani have been arrested over the assault and injury of anti-riot police officers, journalists and officials from the Apostolic mother body at a shrine in Harare’s Budiriro 2 high-density suburb.

They were denied bail by Harare provincial magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe and are currently trying to secure freedom at the High Court.

On May 30, Ndanga went to Madzibaba Ishmael’s Budiriro shrine in the company of 26 police officers to announce the ban of the church for alleged abuse of girls by the male sect members.

The abuses included denial of education for the girl child and marrying them off at a tender age. It was also alleged that fathers tested their daughters’ virginity by inserting their fingers into the girls’ private parts.

ZBC journalists Relax Mafurutu and Tichaona Meza, nine police officers and ACCZ member Langton Muchena sustained serious injuries.

Zanu PF youths in the company of the police and ACCZ members later demolished Madzibaba Ishmael’s shrine.

Police are still hunting down Madzibaba Ishmael, who is still at large.

MDC-T officials were also conspicuous by their absence at the funeral with only the party’s acting guardian’s council president Sekai Holland gracing the event as she usually does.

Party leader Morgan Tsvangirai has repeatedly snubbed the burial of heroes.

He has often accused Zanu PF of bias in the selection of heroes.

Yesterday Mugabe scoffed at the MDC- T and once again described party members as zvitototo (rejects) who do not deserve to be honoured because they had done nothing to the country except selling out.

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They live in a world of their own, in small communities.

To them, experiencing wet dreams is as bad as committing murder.

These are the Vapositori of Johane Masowe eChishanu who worship in Harare’s Budiriro suburb at a place popularly known as paMatanga (tanks).

A visit by the Weekend Post to the shrine revealed a simple but strict lifestyle.

Their shrine is no different from other Vapositori worship places, but their beliefs seem different from other apostolic sects.

Madzibaba Ishamea told this publication how they live and what they believe in.

“The secret of life is to choose what you want to be and what you do not want.

“We chose to be Vapositori and it is our obligation to observe our church rules every time, ndosaka zvichinzi zvakaoma sekunamata (Worshipping God needs people who stick to principles).

“We believe it is a sin just like killing to experience wet dreams because God has made man and woman for a purpose — that is to help each other,” he said.

Madzibaba Ishamea said experiencing wet dreams was a clear sign that one is old enough to marry but people tend to resist.

“The word says killing is a sin hence having wet dreams is a way of wasting “seeds” and the Johane Masowe Church does not brook this.

“Why should a grown up man have wet dreams when he can get a wife? He should marry, having wet dreams is driven by the devil, it’s something that should never happen to a man,” he said.

“Sending children to school, is also a sin. Modern schools are the deathbed of our culture; therefore, we do not allow our children to attend school.

“In schools, children are taught to use condoms to prevent getting unwanted pregnancies and STIs.
“Putting on a condom is tantamount to killing because the condom prevents man’s seeds from entering a woman’s body, killing potential babies,” he said.

Madzibaba Ishamea said in schools, children are taught to exercise birth control methods such as taking family planning pills and according to church rules, this is killing.

“We teach our children basic skills like farming, carpentry, building and motor mechanics among others, but we are not allowed by the church to seek formal employment as this will jeopardise time to worship,” he said.

Paying lobola is also a sin, according to Madzibaba Ishamea. “Getting married is okay but trading people is a sin. No one is allowed to sell another person, hence we are not allowed to charge a bride price,” he said.

According to the church doctrine, having sex with a woman who is more than six months pregnant is also a sin.

“Man is not allowed to have sex with a woman who is six or more months pregnant and it is also not good for men to yearn for sex. Owing to this, man is allowed to marry another woman so as to avoid the sin of burning with desire,” he said.

Using a phone and watching television is also not allowed in Masowe yeChishanu Apostolic Church, according to Madzibaba Ishamea.

“We communicate by sending letters since we do not believe in technology. Of course, our children do not go to school but as I said before, we teach them basic skills in life, including reading and writing,” he said adding the church bars them from venturing into tobacco farming and visiting hospitals.

“Mupositori chaiye haabvumirwe kurima fodya kana kuenda kuchipatara. Hatitombobati phone zvachose, kana paita emergency hama dzangu dzechirungu dzingatophona panext door ndozoudzwa nemuromo. (We are not allowed to venture into tobacco farming and visiting hospitals for medication. Our doctrine restricts us from using a phone).

“Why should we deal with tobacco? God created us for a purpose and whenever we get sick we go back to God and he has the answer.”

Madzibaba Ishamea said church rules do not allow them to be counted during census and they are not worried about obtaining national identification documents.

“We find no value or benefit from the census, what for after all?” he said.

However, Madzibaba Ishamea dismissed allegations that they divorce wives who are non-virgins when they marry.

“Isu kuno hatinyengi vasikana nemuromo asi kuti tinotsvagirwa neDenga. Saka zvekuti munhu anoroora mvana tinongozvinzwirawo munyika umo (We do not propose to girls but they are Heaven-sent, hence we are not known to marry non-virgin wives),” he said.

Last week, Madzibaba Ishamea’s Johanne Masowe eChishanu Apostolic sect members went on the rampage, beating up police officers, journalists and officials from the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ).

Our reporters, Sharon Muguwu and Vasco Chaya spoke to him last year in an exclusive interview where he made stunning revelations and revealed strange beliefs that made his church as controversial as it is.

In the interview, he insisted that his name was Ishamea not Ishmael. Read the fascinating interview which we reproduce below.

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Police tortured, starved us, allege Vapostori

Religion is defined by the Concise English Dictionary as, “The belief in and worship of a supernatural controlling power, especially a personal god or gods.” Religion entails faithfulness to a given set of principles. Most people have real strong attachments to their religious beliefs and any attempt to take them away can only lead to arguments which are as futile as they are pointless. Strong emotions characterize religion. Religion has seen thousands of martyrs giving themselves to burn at the stake.

Religion is what saw early missionaries leaving the comfort of their countries to come to jungles and lion-infested lands on the strength of their convictions to spread the Word. It is religion which motivated the Second Chimurenga with the conviction the freedom fighters had that the great ancestor, Nehanda, had said, “Mapfupa angu achamuka” (My dead bones will rise) before the settlers had killed her. Religion, to the majority, is a matter of life and death. I know of medical doctors and engineers who gave up their well-paying jobs in heeding religious calls. It follows that religion is no laughing matter.

Now, it is the very nature of religion that it’s unique and each person has a right to choose how they want to worship. It is difficult to force anyone into believing anything they do not want to believe and it is not right to try and ram one’s religious beliefs down the throats of others. One ought to convert to a certain religion with willingness and conviction. The very structure of religion makes it difficult to control beliefs or anyone since they have a right even recognized in most constitutions. Section 60(1) (a)(b) of the new constitution notes that, “Every person has the right to freedom of conscience, which includes freedom of thought, opinion, religion or belief; and freedom to practice and propagate and give expression to their thought, opinion, religion or belief whether in public or in private and whether alone  or together with others.

In light of this clear provision it can only be illegal to interfere with anyone’s religious beliefs. History overflows with examples of violent clashes and tragedies that were precipitated by attempts to control people’s religious beliefs. Most democratic countries thus naturally guarantee people’s right to freedom of worship. Now, the ugly scenes of violence that rocked Budiriro last week are ample proof that people will not give up their religious beliefs easily, no matter how absurd. The savage attack on police officers will rank as one of the most shocking incidents the country has ever witnessed in religious circles. While regulating religious beliefs is not the most desirable thing to do, there comes a time when some practices simply become blatantly evil to be associated with God.

Zimbabweans will be quick to recall the spine-chilling abuses perpetrated by jailed religious leader Martin Gumbura on his female congregants. Surely, one does not need to be a spiritual being to recognize abuse. The sad thing, though, is that most victims of abuse do not view it as such. It pains to realize how the religious insanity now prevailing in our country opens valves of abuse against God’s name by the heathen. It makes religion appear like a force that blinds its followers when, in essence, it should open their eyes to the goodness of the Creator. It is very sad to see open abuse of women and children all in the name of religion.

One would wonder which God condones grown-up men inserting their fingers in young girls’ privates in the name of religious virginity testing. Which God advocates for denying children their basic right to education? Honestly, which God opposes citizens’ right to own an identity card document? Which godly religion watches people die because they don’t believe in ‘worldly’ clinics? My friends, there is no right which is not followed by responsibility. One cannot claim to be enjoying their right to religion when it steps on the toes of another’s right. Religion never renders anyone the right to abuse vulnerable members of society. That the Budiriro sect was engaged in deplorable practices should be condemned by all who believe in the sanctity of the name of a pure God.

The Budiriro apostolic sect members’ acts constitute stinking abuse which should be condemned in the strongest terms possible. Also, that they even had the effrontery to assault law enforcers deserves rebuke of the highest form. The need to limit the rights of religious sects has become a priority in this country. Zimbabwe appears to be having more cults than ever in its history. While it must be conceded that religious beliefs are better left unlimited, some things simply can’t be left to go on. The banning of particular practices is really commendable and true religionists should rally behind the protection of the good name of religion.

The battering of several anti–riot police officers who had accompanied Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) executive president Johannes Ndanga to effect a ban on a Johanne Masowe weChishanu apostolic sect in Budiriro 2 has inspired a litany of humour–laden songs and videos by local dancehall artistes.

Members of the Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani-led cult terrorised police officers, journalists and ACCZ officials last Friday, leaving several of their victims injured.

The videos, which have gone viral on social networks, made caricatures of police officers. Artistes behind the productions included musician-cum-producer Clarence Patsika, popularly known as Dr Clarence, who released a video titled Johane MaRasta eChishanu.

The video captures police characters clad in their official uniform dancing, with picture combos showing police officer undergoing severe battering at the hands of the sect members.

“Pano pasowe ramadzibaba Chiremba hapasvikwe zvedzungu, ukasvika pasowe redu zvedzungu tinokurova . . . Zvakatangira mubhaibheri pakati paDavid naGoliath zvakanoperera kuBudiriro pakati pamadzibaba neriot,” sang the chanter.

Dr Clarence told NewsDay yesterday that the release was a work of art in which he captured a real life situation.

“Art is in my veins so I try to as creative as possible over what local societies are becoming. The incident inspired me to compose the song,” said Dr Clarence. “I am not taking any sides between the two sides (the Mapostori and the riot police).”

He said the satirical song was a lighter look at serious situations and those targeted should not be offended because it was just comedy.

This is not the first time that local artistes have released songs shortly after an incident. Last year, several songs were released after the Chitungwiza mysterious blast that claimed five lives with Dr Clarence also releasing a hit single titled PaChitungwiza Chakaputika.

In 2012 when dancehall chanters Winky D and Sniper Storm clashed at a show that was headlined by Jamaican dancehall artiste Mavado he recorded a “diss” track titled Bongozozo PaVigilance targeting the duo.

When musicians Roki and Maneta were evicted from the Big Brother house in 2012, Victor D and Goridhe released a song titled Taneta NaManenta the following day, thrashing the Bulawayo beauty over what they claimed to be her fault for causing the eviction.

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