Medaldo Ruzungunde (47), who led the apostolic church based in the medium density suburb of Ivene, last year pleaded guilty to seriously assaulting fellow congregant Elizabeth Doba leading to her disability.
A medical report put forward in court said Doba would be crippled for the rest of her life due to the attack by Ruzungunde. Magistrate Siphatekhile Msipa slapped him with an 18-month jail term for the crime.
However, the sect leader was released from prison a few days later under unclear circumstances. In February The Zimbabwean exposed the issue when he appeared at Mugabe’s 89th birthday prayer meeting where he sang the praises of the ageing leader.
During his lengthy sermon at the gathering attended by Governor Jaison Machaya and senior Zanu (PF) officials, Ruzungunde said Mugabe was a blameless leader who should reach at least 120 years of age.
Magistrate Msipa, who initially slapped him with an 18 month sentence, increased the jail term to three years before ordering an inquiry into circumstances that had led to his illegal release from Hwahwa prison.
Inside sources allege that top Zanu (PF) officials in the province had connived to get him out of prison so that he could be used to win over thousands of his apostolic sect followers ahead of the next elections.
Post published in: News