A JOHANNE Marange Apostolic Faith meeting descended into a brawling contest near Gokwe centre when church members beat-up an MDC-T Councillor for allegedly “preaching opposition politics” during services.
Witnesses said the incident happened last Saturday when Councillor Onias Marisa - a church elder who represents Gokwe town’s Ward One - defied a directive not to attend services.
Councillor Marisa also confirmed the incident, adding he had filed a report about the assault at Gokwe Central police station.
“I had gone to attend a church service with the intention of worshipping my God but the matter was turned into a political issue when some senior church members attacked me in front of the whole congregation,” Councillor Marisa said.
Church members said Marisa had been barred by sect elders for allegedly violating church rules by “preaching MDC-T politics” during meetings.
A sect member who identified himself as Madzibaba Joseph said: “The norm within our church is that we don’t get involved in politics but pray and support the leader of the day, who in this case is President Mugabe. But Cllr Marisa was now bringing in opposition politics into the church because of his political affiliation.”
Madzibaba Joseph said Marisa had been warned against delving into politics following his election as an MDC-T ward councilor in 2008.
“This (engaging in politics) is against our church doctrines. (After he won the elections) the elders stripped him of the church garments and told him to repent or risk being kicked out of the church for good,” he said.
However, efforts to dissuade Marisa from politics failed and matters came to a head during last Saturday’s church service when he defied an order to leave the gathering.
“Marisa tried to resist the directive and the elders were not amused. They immediately confronted him and proceeded to administer a thorough beating,” Madzibaba Joseph said.
Another witness who asked not to be identified said the Councillor had at one time threatened to close the church if the elders insisted on kicking him out.
“He always insisted that as a Councillor for the area the elders had no authority to chase him away from the church. However last Saturday they decided he had gone too far and chased him away after the beating,” he said.
Marisa said he sustained back injuries following the attack by his colleagues.
“When I sensed that I stood no chance against the church elders I tried to runaway but they grabbed me and continued with the beating," he said.
Midlands Police spokesperson Inspector Patrick Chademana said an assault report was made at Gokwe police station on May 15 adding investigations were underway.
“Police in Gokwe are investigation a case of assault that was reported on 15 May. The case was however not politically motivated as implied in certain quarters,” he said.