(Churches and clergy making headlines this past week)
November 13th, 2021
Headlines:
👉🏻Both Vaccinated And Unvaccinated Congregants Can Attend Church Services - Govt
👉🏻Mwazha Church to Hold Passover Despite Wrangle
👉🏻AFM Faction Leader Faces Eviction
👉🏻Churches in Major Sanctions Breakthrough
👉🏻ZBC Presenter Arrested For Extorting Popular Harare ‘Preacher’ T Freddy
👉🏻Prophet Nearly Killed By Lions, As He Attempts To Prove God's Power
The News In Detail:
Both Vaccinated And Unvaccinated Congregants Can Attend Church Services - Govt
The government reconsidered its position on the attendance of church services saying that both the vaccinated and unvaccinated can attend church services.
It had announced in August that only fully vaccinated congregants could participate during in-person services.
Representatives of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, and the Union for Development of Apostolic and Zionist Churches in Zimbabwe Africa then engaged the government on the matter.
They argued that the directive was difficult to implement because, theologically and practically, the church is an open and welcoming space for everyone.
The government heard decided that, as of September 12, both unvaccinated and fully vaccinated congregants could worship together.
Some celebrated the decision, while others expressed concern about the change.
Peter Musuka, a general practitioner, a member of Chisipiti United Methodist Church, and a survivor of the virus, expressed concern about the decision to allow vaccinated and unvaccinated congregations to worship together. He said:
_I do not know how wise it is. Vaccines cause the body to develop immunity-based resistance to further infections and no serious development of the disease that may lead to subsequent hospitalisation._
Zimbabwe needs to vaccinate 10 million people to reach the targeted herd immunity (66% of the adult population).
Source : Pindula
Mwazha Church to Hold Passover Despite Wrangle
THOUSANDS of devotees from the Paul Ernest Mwazha-led African Apostolic Church (VaApostora VeAfrica) are next month expected to gather for a “holy communion passover” in Chirumanzu in the Midlands province despite a protracted leadership wrangle.
The church members have been in and out of court with the aged archbishop Paul Mwazha winning the challenges brought against him by his son, Alfred.
Church spokesperson Wilson Rutsate confirmed the gathering.
“It is a holy communion event and we are expecting thousands of church members to come and receive the body of Christ,” Rutsate said.
Last month, the Supreme Court upheld part of a High Court ruling on the succession dispute, where Alfred was trying to succeed his 103-year-old father, saying his takeover was unconstitutional.
However, Alfred went on to preside over a church gathering, claiming he was the legitimate leader despite the High Court order which barred him from holding such gatherings.
The church, through Ernest Mhambare — a reverend with the church — dragged Alfred to court on contempt of court charges.
Mhambare accused Alfred of usurping the archbishop’s powers by calling for unsanctioned gatherings.
Mwazha’s three sons — Alfred, Ngoni and James — together with other church elders, Richard Juru, Elson Tafa, Charles Tekeshe, Lovemore Mharadze, Norman Siyamuzhombwe, Gwatirera Jabangwe and Simbanechako Tsveta were cited as respondents.
Mhambare said the church remained under the leadership of the 103-year-old Mwazha, adding that the respondents were trying to grab the church, which was founded in 1959, using unconstitutional means.
Last month, Supreme Court judges Justices George Chiweshe, Susan Mavangira and Tendai Uchena upheld the decision of High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi nullifying Alfred’s claim to be the successor to his father, describing the move to take over the leadership as unconstitutional. Source: NewsDay
AFM Faction Leader Faces Eviction
Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
An Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) splinter group led by Bishop Cossam Chiyangwa has been ordered to vacate the church building at Westgate, Harare, and pay costs of litigation.
Bishop Chiyangwa, a former deputy president of AFM, following a Supreme Court ruling that he was an illegitimate leader, left the church to form another one.
But he, together with his followers, last month besieged the church property known as 696 New Adylin Westgate, Harare, and started conducting church services.
They gained entrance to the church building after breaking the lock to a gate and occupied the property and have been in possession of the property since then.
This prompted the church to file an urgent High Court application for spoliation seeking to restore possession of its property. Justice Amy Tsanga granted the application, which is likely to bring enormous relief to the church and its followers.
“The respondent (Chiyangwa) and all those who claim occupation and possession of the property known as 696 New Adylin, Westgate, Harare, be and are hereby ordered to restore vacant possession of the property to the applicant (AFM) upon service of this order, failing which the Sheriff be and is hereby authorised to asset the applicant to recover vacant possession thereof,” she said.
In her ruling, Justice Tsanga said evidence from Bishop Chiyangwa’s own averments in his notice of opposition and submissions by his legal counsel clearly showed he was not happy with the Supreme Court decision because it did not address the issues of possession and ownership of the premises.
Through his legal counsel, Bishop Chiyangwa sought to justify possession of the church premises on the basis that possession should be looked differently when it comes to church premises.
Justice Tsanga found that his line of argument could not take the case further.
“Self-help runs contrary to the rule of law,” said Justice Tsanga.
“The fact that the respondent managed to take over the premises on October 10 by force ofd numbers before breaking the gate lock on October 11 in fact points to forceful dispossession.”
The battle over control of the AFM reached final victory for Bishop Amon Dubie Madawo and his supporters when the Supreme Court in May this year upheld a previous High Court decision and agreed that a 2018 meeting which purported to change the leadership was void.
But the group loyal to Bishop Chiyangwa, whose appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court, announced that they would form a separate body, if possible remaining under AFM International, but otherwise as a separate church, and would continue occupying church property until legally evicted.
Source : State Media
Churches in Major Sanctions Breakthrough
Africa Moyo-Deputy News Editor
Local church leaders have scored a major diplomatic breakthrough after engaging the head of the Anglican Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, in England yesterday to whom they handed over a letter seeking support in the removal of illegal economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West.
Critically, the seven local clerics and one lady who are under the banner of the Zimbabwe Churches’ Sanctions Relief Initiative (ZICSRI), also requested Archbishop Welby to deliver another letter of request for the removal of sanctions to United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The clerics, who were part of the official Zimbabwe delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Scotland, have been in London, lobbying for the removal of the sanctions that have affected the economy in the last two decades.
Head of Delegation, Reverend Dr Andrew Wutawunashe, told The Herald last night that they had made a major breakthrough in the fight against sanctions.
“As the ZICSRI, we met the Archbishop of Canterbury today (yesterday) and presented our case that the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are not achieving their intended target,” he said.
“If anything, the sanctions are affecting the ordinary people. So we have been working hard to get to where we are today.
“We finally met him (Archbishop of Canterbury) and he promised that he will take our other request letter to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.”
Rev Wutawunashe, who is also chairman of the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches, said his delegation was requesting the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe to improve the economy and the lives of ordinary citizens.
Other members of the delegation are Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi of the Zion Christian Church, Bishop Felix Mukonowengwe who is president of the National Elders Forum (NEF) and Head of Harvest Ministries International, Father Fidelis Mukonori from the Roman Catholic Church of Zimbabwe, Reverend Dr Farai Katsande, President of the Zimbabwe National Council of Pentecostal Churches, Bishop Trevor Manhanga of Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe, Ms Elizabeth Karonga who is a member of the National Elders Forum and Bishop Peter Zvanaka Mukwena from Faith for the Nation Campaign (FANA).
It is understood that the clerics plan to deliver letters of request for the removal of sanctions to United States President Joe Biden and the Vatican City.
Interestingly, as part of his re-engagement during COP26, President Mnangagwa met Secretary of State for the Vatican City, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who said the church was against sanctions.
The President requested that Cardinal Parolin relays his request to Pope Francis that he should loudly condemn the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
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President Mnangagwa, who engaged a number of global leaders during COP26, met President Biden and asked him what wrong the people of Zimbabwe have done to Americans.
The President said President Biden promised to contact him after the climate change meeting.
SADC has been calling for the removal of sanctions and has designated October 25 as the day of solidarity against the embargo.
This year, the UN sent a Special Rapporteur, Professor Alena Douhan, to Zimbabwe to assess the impact of the sanctions. Prof Douhan said the sanctions are illegal and have crippled the economy.
It is felt that the sanctions, combined with the effects of climate change, have made life difficult for Zimbabweans, hence the need to urgently remove the sanctions.
The local Bishops want powerful church leaders to publicly condemn the sanctions on Zimbabwe.
On the sidelines of COP26, the Bishops’ engaged a number of representatives from nations that have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe seeking the unconditional removal of the sanctions on humanitarian grounds.
The Bishops are expected to continue engaging the Church and other bodies to join the call for the removal of sanctions which have affected the manufacturing sector and ordinary people.
Source : Herald
ZBC Presenter Arrested For Extorting Popular Harare ‘Preacher’ T Freddy
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
ZBC presenter, Rutendo Makuti has been arrested on charges of extorting popular Harare preacher Tapiwa Freddy with whom she had a relationship.
She appeared at the Harare Magistrate Court on Friday, before Magistrate Sheunesu Matova who remanded her to December 9 for routine remand.
Makuti, (33) who was represented by Tinashe Mbala, was released on $5 000 bail and ordered not to interfere with state witnesses.
Allegations are that sometime in 2020 Freddy had a relationship with Makuti. During the relationship, it is alleged that she started threatening to expose their affair if he does not meet her financial and material demands.
The court heard that sometime in August 2021, Freddy was summoned by Chief Chikwaka and upon his arrival at the chief’s homestead he was tipped that there were some police officers who wanted to extort him.
He made a U-turn and sought to return to Harare but was stopped by some police officers who were manning a roadblock and was forced to get back to the chief’s homestead.
Tapiwa Freddy
The chief allegedly accused him of raping Makuti and of sleeping with her before a year had lapsed since the death of her husband, violating traditional norms.
Freddy promised to pay US$15 000. In addition, the chief ordered him to pay three goats and Freddy promised to return at a later date with the money and the goats.
It is alleged that the chief made the pastor sign an agreement which was authored by an Inspector Jaji.
Upon their return to Harare, Makuti told Freddy to hand over the US$15000 to her personally since she is the one who was aggrieved.
He handed over a Mercedes Benz E250 valued at US$15 000.
It is alleged after some days, Makuti started threatening Freddy again, saying his secretary Nollen Mundawaro had insulted her so she wanted a compensation of US$20 000.
Yesterday, Makuti’s brother demanded that he pays up the US$20 000 and that he signs an acknowledgement that he had raped her, failure which would result in him exposing their affair.
Freddy reported to matter to the police.
Makuti was arrested after she was lured to meet with Freddy to purportedly to discuss the payment of the US$20 000.
The US$ 15 000 was recovered.
Source : NewsDay
Prophet Nearly Killed By Lions, As He Attempts To Prove God's Power
A Prophet of a local church who was filled with the Holy Spirit recently ‘challenged’ a lion to do battle in the Hwange National Park.
Prophet Alec who is based in Harare was with fellow church members in the Hwange National Park where they were watching animals.It is believed the prophet went into a trance and started to speak in tongues. Ahead of them was a lion pride busy eating their impala.
Alec must have thought he was the biblical Samson as the prophet opened the car door and went charging towards the lions. Upon seeing the man running towards them, the lions could not believed that manna was coming straight from heaven and instead ran towards the prophet.
Alec must have then come to his senses as he quickly realised this was not going to end well and made an immediate turn and ran back to safety. But before he could safely reach the confines of the car, one lion had snapped its paws on his buttock. Also thanks to the game ranger who was near who fired some shots with his gun to scare the lion away.
So severe was the lion paw injury that Alec had to be rushed to hospital for emergency for the removal of one buttock. The man was fearing he would lose all his buttocks but the doctor’s assured him he would still have his left buttock intact.
“I do not know what came over me’, Alec confessed, ‘I thought the Lord wanted to use me to show his power over animals. Is it not we were given dominion over all creatures of the earth’, Alec added.
Alec was eventually stitched up and discharged after two weeks in hospital
Source: The Southern Daily
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