Johane Marange Apostolic Sect Founder's Grave Tampered With In A Suspected Ritual Case
The grave of the founder of the Johane Marange Apostolic sect was allegedly tampered with over the weekend in a suspected ritual case.
This comes amid a continued fight within the family of the late Johane Muchabaya Momberume over control of one of the country’s largest apostolic sects.
Clements Momberume, the late founder’s eldest surviving son, through his lawyer Passmore Nyakureba of Maunga Maanda and Associates said he filed a report at Marange Police Station.
The security fence at the late founder’s grave was allegedly uprooted by some of the family members and dumped at Clements’ homestead in Marange, NewsDay reported citing Momberume’s lawyer. He is quoted as saying:
We have just filed a police report at Marange Police Station after a perimeter security fence at the late founder Muchabaya Momberume was uprooted and we also found some tampering with his grave.
We were at Marange Police Station together with my client, Clements Momberume.
Clements is said to have unveiled the tombstone on his late father’s grave and erected a perimeter fence where his brother, Abel Momberume is also buried at Chinyamukumba burial site.
Other family members were, however, reportedly against the erection of the perimeter fence because they want free access to the grave to perform rituals.
The wrangle in the sect started in early 2022 following the death of another leader Noah Taguta who was believed to be 90 years old.
Clements Momberume challenged in court the burial of Noah Taguta at the Chinyamukumba mountain range.
The High Court granted him an interim order barring the burial of Taguta at the sacred shrine in Mafararikwa village. Taguta was buried on the same day that Clements received a favourable judgment.
Noah Taguta was the son of Arnold Momberume, who was an elder brother to the founder, Johane Momberume.
