HARARE – A bitter church feud has escalated, with the African Apostolic Church seeking police intervention to stop a renegade group led by Ngoni Edward Mwazha from defying court orders and convening an “illegal” gathering at the Ndarikure shrine.
According to a letter from Reverend Mukasa, Provincial Secretary of the church, the renegade group has defied court orders and is planning an illegal gathering at the Ndarikure shrine on August 28, 2024.
The group’s leaders, including Alfred Kushamisa Mwazha, Ngoni Edward Mwazha, James Mwazha, Richard Juru, Elson Tafa, Charles Tekeshe, Lovemore Mharadze and Norman Siyamuzhombwe have been accused of violating the law by erecting tents and gathering firewood at the prohibited site.
The church has provided the police with court orders HC537/22 and Supreme Court Order Civil Appeal 402/22, which interdict the respondents from visiting church shrines or convening meetings without express authority from the church leadership.
The police have been requested to arrest the accused persons for breaking the law and to stop the illegal gathering.
“We hereby submit that Ngoni Edward Mwazha, Elson Tafa and Norman Mharadze remained defiant and Ngoni Edward Mwazha is now leading the splinter group.
“He has deployed Simbanechako Tsveta and Nyika Murisi as their church’s provincial bishop and provincial chairman respectively.
“These two have additionally deployed their own men to Ndarikure shrine to prepare for their anticipated illegal gathering due on 28 August 2024,” read part of the letter.
“Nyika Murisi was physically present at the prohibited site on 20 August 2024 leading his team erecting tents and gathering firewood at the place and these are equally prohibited by the High Court orders as they are acting on behalf of Ngoni Edward Mwazha, Elson Tafa and Norman Mharadze. Elson Tafa is their national chairman whereas Simbanechako Tsveta is the vice chairman.
“It is in this vein that we seek the services of the police to have the accused persons arrested for breaking the law or at least asked to stop their illegal gathering. Their continued presence at Ndarikure is a violation of the law.
“Through this letter we therefore request for your urgent intervention and have those illegally camped and doing works at our holy shrine arrested. For the avoidance of doubt, High Order HC537/22 bars the cited respondents or anyone working on their behalf from gathering at our holy shrines or convening their meetings in the name of the African Apostolic Church.
The church also expressed gratitude for previous support from the police, including the arrest of the same individuals on September 2, 2023, for illegally convening a church gathering at Ndarikure.
