Johane Marange apostolic sect members removed from Maparanyanga, among them women and children, had to sleep by the roadside along the Masvingo-Mashava highway on Saturday night as they scrambled to access the limited transport back home.

Police on Saturday dispersed more than 5 000 members of the Church who had gathered on the outskirts of Masvingo for their annual Passover ceremony.

The worshippers were ordered to return to their homes after violating Covid-19 social distancing rules which do not allow a group exceeding 50 people to congregate.

When state run Herald reporters visited the site on Sunday, scores of families were still by the roadside where they had pitched up tents for temporary shelter.

The visibly agitated church members said they were unhappy at being ordered to disperse by the police before they could have their annual Passover feast.

Cooking utensils, blankets among other items were strewn all over the place with some seated around fires while others were cooking.

They refused to have photographs taken, complaining over the way they had been blocked from celebrating Passover.

“We have our own transport which is on its way. What do you want here? Don’t take our pictures otherwise it won’t end well here. It could be better if Government had allowed us to remain at our shrine and now that you chased us away, we are like animals,” said one male sect member, threatening to harm the reporters.

In May 2014, the sect shot to fame after they beat up police officers and journalists who attempted to disperse them. More than six riot police officers and journalists were seriously injured after members of the apostolic sect attacked them with knobkerries and stones in Harare’s Budiriro suburb.

The attack took place soon after ACCZ executive president Archbishop Johannes Ndanga announced that the church led by Madzibaba Ishemael Mufani had been banned from operating in Zimbabwe because it was violating the country’s laws and that of Christianity.

The congregants were singing a song called “Hondo Yepfumo Neropa” and smashed a Zbc truck shouting that the only recognise President Mugabe not Ndanga.

The injured were rushed to Harare Hospital and others were taken to Garden City Clinic in Highfield.