Sunday News Reporter

A 31-YEAR-OLD Zion Apostolic Church member struck a church elder in the face with a stone before threatening to set him on fire after a heated argument over bottles of wine that the church bought and prayed for, for a meeting.

This was heard when Life Mlilo (31) of Mzwapansi area in Nkayi appeared before Nkayi resident magistrate, Mr Ndumo Masuku facing charges of assault as defined in Section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9 :23.

He pelted a church elder, Dumisani Ndebele of the same area, in the face with a stone after he restrained him from destroying bottles of wine that the elders had prayed for and were set on the table and ready to be given to congregants.

He was sentenced to six months in prison for the offence.

The State case as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Maxwell Hapanyengwi, was that sometime in April there was a church gathering of the True Followers in Zion Apostolic Church in Mzwapansi area in Nkayi.

While at the church there was an argument over the type of wine that the elders had bought which Mlilo said was not the right one.

The State told the court that the elders explained to Mlilo but he would not listen, instead he threatened to destroy all the bottles of wine that were set at the table before they were given to members of the church.

Ndebele, the State alleges, grabbed Mlilo by the hand and dragged him outside the church where he is said to have told him that he was making unnecessary noise.

Mlilo responded by picking up a stone that he pelted Ndebele with once in the face and he sustained injuries as a result of the attack.

The court was further told that Ndebele escaped into the church with his assailant in hot pursuit after picking a burning log from the huge fire that was outside where other members were. He was threatening to set Ndebele on fire.

He also threw small burning logs at Ndebele but missed as he scurried for cover.

He was not represented.