The Sunday News
Harare Bureau
SCORES of unruly members of the Johane Masowe yeChishanu members who did the unthinkable by attacking anti-riot officers, Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe officials and journalists, face arrest as police launch a Sunday raid to weed out the malcontents in Budiriro 2 today.
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday warned police will ruthlessly react to lawlessness.
“The police will arrest everyone who assaulted police officers who were on duty, and journalists. We do not tolerate church members who beat police officers and journalists.
“They will be arrested and we urge all church members to lead by example. What will the nation and our neighbours say when we have church members behave in such a manner, that’s not the way church members communicate.
“There were children at that meeting. How are they going to think or behave when their parents beat up police officers. People will be picked up,” she said.
Officer Commanding Harare province Senior Assistant Commissioner Clement Munoriarwa said police would arrest the culprits.
“We are not investigating the allegations that were raised by Bishop Johannes Ndanga from the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe at the moment.
“The police have a unit that will be moving in tomorrow (today) to Budiriro to pick everyone who was involved. We will not tolerate that behaviour where we have members from a church attacking the police and journalists.
“We will deal with them. The police force does not tolerate such behaviour where church members act and behave like gangsters or activists. People are going to be arrested and that is our role. When one breaks the law we move in and that is what is going to happen in Budiriro,” said Senior Asst Comm Munoriarwa.
Police sources said that evidence was compiled from internet pictures while witnesses were questioned to gather evidence against controversial members of the Johane Masowe yeChishanu sect.
Sources added that police had already identified some members of the sect who ran riot last Friday.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Johane Masowe yeChishanu apostolic sect yesterday distanced themselves from the group led by Ishmael Mufani.
One of the leaders Mr Lawrence Katsiru apologised to the nation over the shameful Friday drama but disowned the Budiriro sect saying they were only abusing their name – Johane Masowe yeChishanu.
“We would like to apologise to the President, Zimbabwe Republic Police, ACCZ, journalists and the nation at large for what happened on Friday but I would like to make it clear that Mufani is not part of Johane Masowe yeChishanu since we only have five leaders and he is not among the five,” said Mr Katsiru.
