The cathedral had been illegally occupied by a renegade pro-ruling party
ex-priest and baton-charged parishioners waiting for the church to be opened
and to begin a service, witnesses said.
Watched by a group of about 20 parishioners on Sunday, a locksmith
accompanying the deputy-sheriff – whose name was not immediately available –
had just used a bolt cutter to open the padlock on the gate to the cathedral
when a squad of riot police drove up, Chibaya said.
The court official was arguing with a police detail and two priests loyal to
dismissed former bishop of Harare Nolbert Kunonga challenging a writ of
execution granted by a high court judge on Friday.
‘We thought … help has come at last,’ she said. ‘They jumped out the truck
and started beating us, and bundled us – including the deputy-sheriff – in
the truck and took us to the charge office. I was in shock,’ she said.