REVEREND Dennies Sikhosana of the United Christian Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) is in trouble after he admitted that the church owned a gun which was found at the church premises, but he failed to produce an arms certificate. SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Sikhosana, who represented the church, was not asked to plead to illegal possession of the firearm when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushove on Friday.
The magistrate remanded the case to November 5 for trial. The court heard that on October 25 at 9.50am, a report of unlawful entry into the church premises was made at the Bulawayo Central Police Station.
The informant, who is not mentioned, said the firearm was left on top of a table in one of the church offices.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide Squad attended to the scene and recovered a 9mm Norinco pistol serial number 112618 which was on top of a table in the board room.
The central firearms registry department was called to verify the rightful owner of the firearm using serial numbers given and it was discovered that it was registered under the UCCSA — which Sikhosana admitted.
He said the gun belonged to the UCCSA church situated at the corner of Jason Moyo and 3rd Avenue in Bulawayo, but he failed to produce a certificate.
The church was then charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
