On this day in 1914, the late African preacher and religious leader Shoniwa Masedza aka baba Johane Masowe eChishanu was born in the rural district of Rusape in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). At the age of 17 he left his parents and headed towards Norton were he began working as a shoemaker. Shoniwa was nicknamed ‘Sixpence’. In receiving his calling, he was instructed to tell people not to call him with his nickname, rather he was to be called father John. The late African preacher was instructed to teach the law of God. During his time, he urged people to stop worshiping other gods but to turn to the one living God who created the earth.
On this day in 2015, members of the Johane Masowe eChishanu sect led by Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani attacked the Zimbabwe Republic Police with stones and knobkerries in Budidriro, Harare. This hostile confrontation took place after president of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe Archbishop Johannes Ndanga had announced the the sect should be banned after reports of human rights abuses especially on the girl child. Police officers, reporters were injured and taken to hospital.
On this day in 2015, Johanne Masowe eChishanhu sect leader, Madzibaba Ishmael who had ran away from the police was found and arrested. The reason for his arrest was for encouraging public violence in connection with events which had occured at the Johanne Masowe eChishanhu in Budiriro Shrine in which a police officer and a ZBC photographer was heavily assaulted and injured.
On this day in 1973, African preacher and religious leader Shoniwa Masedza aka baba Johane Masowe eChishanu died in Zambia. Johane Masowe believed in direct revelation from God, as opposed to the mediation of white people or African ancestors. As a religious leader, during his time, he managed to convert about one million people by the end of the twentieth century.