As the excitement of the Christmas day is mounting and families are preparing for the big day, two prophets in Harare have been caught in dire situations that are sure to jeopardize their celebrations.
The first is popular prophet Gathry Chiredzero, also known as Madzibaba Gathry who will spend the Christmas holiday in jail after he was denied bail on allegations of stalking President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State functions on Monday. The self styled prophet was recently arrested at Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks.
In his bail application, Gathry said he was a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) informer and was not in possession of a firearm at the time of arrest because he had left it at Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks’ entrance. Chiredzero also challenged the CIO officials to come and prove that his identification documents were fake.
It is the State’s case that Chiredzero positioned himself near the podium where President Mnangagwa was speaking at the swearing-in of Cabinet ministers at State House and at the renaming of King George VI Barracks to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks while in possession of a loaded 38 Special Amadeo Rossi S.A Revolver serial number AA757095. He was then remanded in custody to December 28.
And in an unclear twist of events, Gathry has been reported to be on the run from paying maintenance for his child. It was established that last week he appeared before the courts on allegations of running away from paying close to $4 000 maintenance arrears.
The State alleges Madzibaba Gathry has been on the run since August this year when he was ordered to clear the arrears by the court. Through his lawyer Mr John Ndomene, Chiredzero told Harare magistrate Ms Josephine Sande he had paid $200, but had lost the receipts when the military police ransacked his house.
Another prophet who could possibly be having a bleak Christmas celebration is the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) president Archbishop Johannes Ndanga.
His church council has recalled its allegations of flagrant violation of the organisation’s constitution and making unilateral appointments, among other charges. ACCZ provincial chairpersons and coordinators met on Sunday and resolved to recall Archbishop Ndanga and scrapped the life presidency position he had bestowed upon himself.
In a letter to Archbishop Ndanga, ACCZ said:
“It is with grave sadness that we are recalling you from the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe presidency with immediate effect because of the blatant violations of our governing constitution which you are supposed to uphold.”
