The president of the Zimbabwe Transformative Party (ZTP), Parere Kunyenzura, has been ordered to perform community service following his conviction for contravening sections of the Maintenance of Peace and Order (MOPO) Act.
Kunyenzura (52), who is also the bishop of Mirirai Jehovha Apostolic Church, was convicted by Harare magistrate Tafadzwa Miti after a full trial.
ZTP deputy president Simon Goshomi confirmed the development to Pindula News. He said:
President Parere Kunyenzura of the Zimbabwe Transformative Party has been found guilty and will do community service.
He is scheduled to be released tonight (Wednesday) from Harare Remand Prison.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on Wednesday said Kunyenzura has been “convicted of contravening Maintenance of Peace and Order (MOPO) Act after he allegedly convened a gathering in 2022 and led an unsanctioned procession of his church members while protesting and singing a gospel song with the lyrics “Emmanuel tisunungureiwo tanzwa ne nhamo” loosely translated to “Emmanuel save us from bondage”.
Kunyenzura and 34 of his followers who participated in the protest were arrested by the police on 9 July 2022.
His followers were convicted of criminal nuisance in November last year.
However, they escaped imprisonment after they were given a wholly suspended three months sentence.
They were also ordered to pay ZW$12 000 fine each by Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje.
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.