Madzibaba Ishmael slapped with $9 500 lawsuit

Comment & Analysis
IT never rains but pours for incarcerated Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect leader Ishmael Chokurongerwa, who is again set to defend a $9 500 lawsuit filed against him by one of the victims of the violence that rocked his Harare shrine last year.

IT never rains but pours for incarcerated Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect leader Ishmael Chokurongerwa, who is again set to defend a $9 500 lawsuit filed against him by one of the victims of the violence that rocked his Harare shrine last year.

BY CHARLES LAITON

Chokurongerwa, who is serving a four-year effective jail term for public violence, is set to contest the damages lawsuit behind bars after his application seeking bail pending appeal was dismissed by the High Court in August.

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Chokurongerwa is being sued alongside his church-mate, Takavengwa Gwenzi of Green Valley, Epworth in Harare over the same allegations of the assault perpetrated on the man-of-the-cloth during a clash with law enforcement agents in Budiriro on May 30 last year. In his particulars of claim filed on September 22 at the Civil Magistrates Court Bishop Lameck Chitope said he was demanding from the pair: “Payment of $9 500 being damages for bodily injury caused on the plaintiff and occasioned by defendants [Chokurongerwa and Gwenzi] unlawful actions which amount despite demand, the defendants have refused, neglected or failed to pay.”

He added: “Payment of interest on the $9 500 at the prescribed rate from the date of summons to the date of full payment and costs of suit.”

Chokurongerwa is among the 12 members of Johanne Masowe eChishanu who were slapped with jail terms by the magistrates’ court after being convicted of public violence.

Chances of Chokurongerwa escaping imprisonment through his appeal look slim following the dismissal of his bail pending appeal application by High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze two months ago.

The court heard on the day in question, Apostolic Christian Church in Zimbabwe president, Bishop Johannes Ndanga, his delegation, police officers and journalists visited Chokurongerwa’s shrine to address the gathering over issues of child abuse.

While at the venue Chokurongerwa started singing an inciting song called Umambo Hwepfumo Neropa (The kingdom of spear and blood), after which Ndanga, his delegation, police and journalists were severely assaulted.