CHAOS reigned supreme at the late Mugodhi Apostolic sect
leader Tandewu Mugodhi’s burial in Wedza on Saturday after two factions clashed
over the burial site and the appointment of his son as heir apparent.
Three police officers, who were at the site, had a torrid
time quelling the chaos as sect members exchanged harsh words, while some
shouted unprintable words as the leadership wrangle within one of the biggest
apostolic sects in the country escalated.
A faction opposed to the elevation of Mugodhi’s son
Washington was left seething with anger after he was ordained sect leader against
a High Court ruling which recognised vice-bishop Tonnie Sigauke as the bona
fide successor.
High Court judge Justice Owen Tagu made the determination
on September 4, 2019, after sect members petitioned the court, seeking an order
to interdict Tandewu from appointing Washington the acting vice-bishop and to
act on his behalf.
Justice Tagu further said Tandewu’s move was a breach of
the sect’s constitution.
In his ruling, Justice Tagu said: “The first respondent
(Tandewu) be and is hereby interdicted from carrying out his duties until he
has been cleansed in terms of the applicant’s constitution.
“The first, second, third and fourth respondents (Tandewu,
Washington, Innocent and Enock Mugodhi) together with their families be and are
hereby interdicted from interfering in the operations of the applicant
(Sigauke).
“The pronouncement by the first respondent that the second
respondent is now the acting vice-bishop be and is hereby declared unlawful.
The vice-bishop Tonnie Sigauke be and is hereby confirmed as acting bishop.”
There were also frantic efforts to bar Tandewu from being
buried at the sect’s headquarters.
The disgruntled sect members tried to use traditional
leadership in the area to stop the burial without success. Newsday
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