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Munyaradzi Musiiwa  Midlands Correspondent
THREE journalists from ZBC and Newsday were yesterday assaulted by Christ Apostolic Church founder and leader, Right Reverend Isaac Tititi Moyo and his church followers at his Border Town Complex in Kwekwe.The journalists had gone to the complex seeking to get a comment from Rev Moyo around 3PM over allegations that his farm workers are terrorising Sherwood villagers in Kwekwe.

Rev Moyo stands accused by villagers of attacking their livestock which stray into his farm with axes and machetes and sometimes killing them.

The journalists who were attacked are   Blessed Mhlanga of Newsday, ZBCtv Midlands Bureau Chief Jacqueline Gwemende and cameraman, Dzikamai Mandizvidza.

“What do you want? I do not talk to ZBC or newspapers I speak to God,” Rev Moyo said furiously before asking the journalists to leave.
The man of cloth lost it when Mandizvidza started filming him and his complex.

Rev Moyo stormed out of the restaurant and charged towards Mandizvidza. About 20 of the reverend’s followers mobbed Mandizvidza and started assaulting him, dragging him by his belt while wresting his camera which they threatened to destroy.

The followers turned on Gwemende and Mhlanga who had started taking pictures while Madizvidza was being manhandled.

Mhlanga was also dragged by his belt while other followers were pushing him around and wresting his iPad demanding that he deletes  the pictures he took.

Gwemende was also pushed off by Rev Moyo’s bouncers when she tried to restrain them from assaulting Mandizvidza.

Rev Moyo threatened the reporters with unspecified action. “Who do you think you are? Whatever protection that you think you have is of no use to me. I told you to leave and you started taking pictures, why?

You must seek my permission first before you start taking pictures”, he said.

The journalists went and reported the matter at Kwekwe Central Police Station.

Rev Moyo is being accused of attacking livestock that would have strayed into his farm belonging to Village 12 and 13 villagers in Sherwood resettlement farms.

The villagers alleged that Rev Moyo’s farm workers killed about 10 cattle that had strayed onto his farm while more than 30 were struck   by axes and machetes.

On Tuesday, more than 500 villagers staged a peaceful demonstration at Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s farm, which is  next to Rev Moyo’s, petitioning the VP to  evict Moyo.

“We have lost more than 10 cattle after they were struck by axes and machetes by Rev Moyo’s farm workers. More than 30 cattle were injured after they were attacked by the Reverend’s employees.

Our cattle stray into his farm looking for water because there is a canal which flows from Munyati River. We have petitioned VP Mnangagwa so that the matter is resolved amicably,” said Ward 12 village head Jane Mubata.

Another villager, Gladyes Magwa, who allegedly had 10 cattle that were injured after being attacked by machetes by Rev Moyo’s gang, said they reported the matter to the police but no action was taken.

A Bulawayo Judge was this week caught in a bizzare religious zealotry scandal after springing to the defence of Rev Moyo in a full page newspaper advert. The Labour Court Judge Mercy Moya-Matshanga claimed Rev Moyo – believed to be a prophet by followers – was a “true man of God” as she fought newspaper claims that he was a “Satanist”. Justice Moya-Matshanga – once crticised by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku for lacking basic understanding of court procedures – sought  to “set the record straight” about what she claimed was malicious falsehoods being peddled against Rev Moyo.