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OpenBishop Kunyenzura Convicted Of Contravening MOPO Act
The leader of the Zimbabwe Transformative Party (ZTP), Parere Kunyenzura, has been convicted of contravening the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act in an incident that occurred in 2022.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Kunyenzura (52), a bishop of Mirirai Jehovha Apostolic Church, has been convicted of contravening the MOPO Act after he allegedly convened a gathering in 2022 and led an unsanctioned procession of his church members.
The group was allegedly protesting and singing a gospel song with the lyrics “Emmanuel tisunungureiwo tanzwa ne nhamo” loosely translated to “Emmanuel save us from bondage”. Added ZLHR:
During the trial, which was presided over by Harare Magistrate Tafadzwa Miti, prosecutors alleged that Parere convened an illegal gathering on 9 July 2022 and led an unsanctioned procession of his church members as they marched along Robert Mugabe Way towards Simon Muzenda Street in central Harare, while protesting and singing gospels song with the lyrics “Emmanuel tisunungureiwo tanzwa ne nhamo” loosely translated to “Emmanuel save us from bondage”.
Prosecutors claimed that Parere led a procession of his church members without notifying the regulating authority, which is ZRP.
In his defence, Parere’s lawyer, Evans Moyo of [ZLHR], had asked Magistrate Miti to set his client free arguing that under MOPO Act, the nature of the gathering which he was accused of convening is exempted as an offence as it is a religious gathering.
In convicting Parere, Magistrate Miti ruled that the clergyman had breached the MOPO Act as the piece of legislation only exempts gatherings and not processions from being considered offences.
Magistrate Miti ruled that a procession such as the one allegedly led by Parere is not a gathering and stated that she believes that the procession by the congregants was not a bonafide religious gathering but a protest given the lyrics to the song “Emmanuel tisunungureiwo tanzwa ne nhamo” loosely translated to mean “Emmanuel save us from bondage”.
Kunyenzura claimed God ordained him as the next President of Zimbabwe when he launched the party in May 2022.
He said neither President Emmerson Mnangagwa nor his biggest challenger, Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the opposition CCC, will win the 2023 presidential election.
Kunyezura warned state security agencies not to try to thwart what “God” has ordained.
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