The ManicaPost
. . . as Bishop approaches court
Tendai Gukutikwa Post Correspondent—
INFIGHTING has once again rocked Anglican Diocese of Manicaland, Church of the Province of Central Africa after its board of trustees led by Bishop Eric Ruwona approached the Mutare Civil Court seeking a peace order and interdict against 26 congregants for exuding violent conduct at its St Agnes Church in Chikanga.
Among the respondents are Masvingo Provincial Administrator, Mr Fungai Mbetsa, his wife, Christina, Joseph Mashingaidze and 23 others who are accused of allegedly disrupting a church service at St Agnes Church.
They are alleged to have shouted profanities at retired Bishop Sebastian Bakare as he delivered his sermon.
Bishop Bakare was requested by Bishop Ruwona to conduct services at the parish as the church scouted for a suitable replacement following the suspension of Reverend Gilbert Sambona over adultery allegations.
After allegedly disrupting the service, Bishop Ruwona served the 26 with letters informing them of the church’s decision to ex-communicate them.
Bishop Ruwona accused them of exuding intolerable violent conduct when they disrupted church services.
Their conduct, Bishop Ruwona said, was unbefitting of Anglicans. The church wants them barred from its vicinity, services and to be declared non-members of the Anglican family.
Mr Ashel Mutungura of Mutungura Legal Practitioners is representing the diocese, while Mutare lawyer, Ms N S Nyamwanza is representing the 26.
In a responding affidavit, Mashingaidze said he was insulted by Bishop Bakare when he uttered the words: “vana venyoka (sons of serpents)”.
It is alleged the now ex-communicated members stormed the parish as Rtd Bishop Bakare was conducting mass and disrupted the service by shouting profanities at him and ordering him to “go to the dead”.
It is also alleged in the founding affidavit of the applicant that Mbetsa, Mashingaidze and their 24 accomplices were in the habit of challenging the cleric, lecturing to him on how he should structure his sermons.
It is further alleged the 26 were not even Anglicans.
Mr Mutungura referred to the Supreme Court judgements Number 48 of 2012 and 10 of 2013 involving the church versus Bishops Nolbert Kunonga and Elson Jakazi.
He argued that the respondents in question were not members of the church and that the church had no other remedy other than seeking a peace order and interdict against them to ensure peace during its services.
Mr Mutungura labelled the 26 as Jakazi followers who were pursuing hidden agendas.
Mr Mbetsa
“They were the Jakazi followers, they still are and it is common cause they cannot deny that,” he said.
Mr Mutungura said the Supreme Court arrived on the decision that once Kunonga, Jakazi and their followers including these 26 adopted that position, they separated themselves automatically from the church and seized to be members of the Anglican Church.
“It is in black and white that they are no longer members of the church and thus they cannot be disciplined by the church. Which constitutional right do they claim in an association where they are not members?” argued Mr Mutungura.
He likened them to gatecrashers at a wedding who impose themselves on the bride and groom, demanding to be made bridesmaids.
Mr Mutungura argued that if the 26 had been well-mannered gatecrashers, they would have not been served with banishment letters by Bishop Ruwona.
This was after Ms Nyamwanza had raised a constitutional argument citing that Section 60 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which states that Christians also have rights which include freedom of worship.
The matter was adjourned to a later date for judgement.
