THE Johanne Marange Apostolic Church says it will take legal action against the government mouthpiece The Herald for "manufacturing falsehoods," unless the newspaper retracts stories it published on two consecutive days last week.
These claimed that some worshippers died when they drank "poisoned" tea at Rupako Farm in Nyazura.
In a letter to Pikirayi Deketeke, the paper's editor, dated 24 May, written by the sect's lawyers Mushonga and Associates, the Church says if there is no retraction within four days they will either issue a summons for defamation against the newspaper or make an official report to the police.
The letter says the sect, led by Noah Taguta, would consider reporting the paper to the police for allegedly publishing falsehoods in contravention of the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
It could not be established by yesterday whether The Herald had responded to the ultimatum.
At least 47 people, 27 of them women and seven children, were affected and admitted to hospital on 19 May, according to the stories.