Bishop Gwajima testifies in firearm case

Dar es Salaam.  Glory of Chris Tanzania Church leader, Bishop Josephat Gwajima, has told Kisutu resident Magistrate’s Court that he surrendered to police immediately after learning, through social media, that they were looking for him.

Testifying before Principal Resident Magistrate Cyprian Mkeha in the case in which he is charged along with his security guard and his assistants, George Mzava, Yeconia Bihagaze and Godfrey Milulu over possession of a firearm, Bishop Gwajima said he went to police with a bag which had his firearm.

In the case, the bishop is also separately charged with one count of failure to keep in safe custody the firearm and ammunitions while his co accused are also charged with illegal possession of the firearm.

Led by his advocate Peter Kibatala, Bishop Gwajima told the court that he learnt that law enforcers were looking for him on March 26, 2015 when he was in Arusha attending to religious issues.

He told the court that he decided to return in Dar es Salaam on the next day and he straight went to the office of the Zonal Crime Officer (ZCO) to ascertain if the police were indeed looking for him.

He acknowledged that noted that 17 rounds of shotgun ammunitions found in his bag belonging to him and added that he legally own the firearms for his safety.

The case was adjourned to April 10.

At the same time, the court issued a last adjournment for prosecution to bring witnesses into a case of uttering abusive language facing the Bishop Gwajima.

Magistrate Mkeha reached the decision after prosecution led by State Attorney Joseph Maugo asked for adjournment of the case because they had no witness to testify.

In the case, the Bishop is charged with abusing the Catholic Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo.