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The late Apostle Charles Chiriseri and Pastor Petunia Chiriseri

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
A COP who was set to appear in court for allegedly robbing Apostle Charles Chiriseri’s corpse of $200 has died after an ex-policeman allegedly hit him with a car at a roadblock.

Mkhokheli Mpofu (30), a constable, was hit by a car while manning a roadblock on Friday near the spot where he allegedly robbed the late founder of His Presence Ministries International pastor’s corpse in September last year.

Fellow officers yesterday told The Chronicle they believed Apostle Chiriseri’s spirit was exacting vengeance on Mpofu.

The accident that seriously injured Mpofu occurred at the 397KM peg along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway in Mbembesi around 6PM.  He died on admission to the United Bulawayo Hospitals on the same day at around 7.30PM.

“A former police officer Mr Peter Cahile was driving a Land Rover Defender towards Bulawayo and he failed to stop at the roadblock,” said a source who declined to be named.

“Mr Cahile told investigators he failed to see Cst Mpofu who was in the road signalling for him to stop, as it was dark. He stopped a few metres from the accident scene and was immediately arrested.”

Mpofu was supposed to appear in court on March 28 for allegedly stealing $200 which was in the late Apostle Chiriseri’s pocket at the accident scene.

He allegedly committed the crime with a colleague, Tawanda Mawere (31) and a fire fighter, Mthandazo Rick Dube (34) from the Bulawayo Fire Brigade at the 388KM peg along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway last September.

The late apostle was travelling to Bulawayo with his wife pastor Pertunia Chiriseri who suffered serious injuries and was admitted in hospital for about a month before she was discharged.

Mpofu and Mawere were stationed at Mbembesi police station and according to state papers seen by The Chronicle, Dube retrieved the apostle’s body from the wreckage and searched it.

“He then took $505, 95 from the wallet and recorded it in the Famona Fire Brigade log book and the two other accused persons, Mawere and Mpofu appended their signatures in the presence of Mount Olives International church pastor Gordon Dube who was one of the first people to arrive at the scene,” reads the court papers.

When Pastor Dube left the accident scene, the trio allegedly connived to steal $200 from the money they had recovered.

The theft was discovered when a relative to the late apostle, Bishop Colin Nyathi of Harvest House International Ministries communicated with Pastor Dube who revealed to him the amount of money that was found in Apostle Chiriseri’s pocket.

Investigations led to the accused persons’ arrest and they are set to appear in court.

@winnie_masara