Sect Follower On $1 000 Bail for Assault

A FOLLOWER of the Johanne WeChishanu Apostolic Church appeared at the Chitungwiza magistrate courts on Tuesday this week for allegedly assaulting the husband of a woman claiming to have been raped by the church's spiritual healer, Godfrey Nzira.

Michael Kambada (47) is being charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Charles Murove remanded Kambada to August 1, and ordered him to pay $1 000 bail.

The State alleges that Kambada last month invited the victim to the church shrine and started questioning him about the alleged rape of his wife by Nzira.

When the victim denied to comment on the issue, he was allegedly beaten up with a baton stick and as a result sustained a fractured hand.

Meanwhile, the case of Nzira was transferred to the Harare magistrate's court for security reasons.

Nzira, who is facing nine counts of rape, will appear in court next Monday.

His legal representative, Mr Wilson Manase of Manase and Manase, yesterday said the case would be tried at the Harare magistrate court.

"The Harare magistrate court is most convenient and the security is tight," Mr Manase said.