adminPatrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
HIGH Court Judge Justice Maxwell Takuwa yesterday reserved judgment indefinitely in the matter pitting Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) of Africa International head Reverend Tony Tshuma and Clement Nyathi, who is leading a breakaway group that is challenging his leadership.
Justice Takuwa heard submissions from both parties in his Bulawayo chambers for nearly two hours.
Rev Tshuma was accompanied by his lawyer, Walter Nyabadza, while Nyathi was represented by Norman Mugiya.
Justice Takuwa told both parties that the Registrar would advise them once the court makes its ruling.
Nyathi’s faction applied for an interdict against Rev Tshuma’s leadership and 25 of the church ministers. Nyathi wants Rev Tshuma’s group barred from any involvement in the church affairs pending the finalisation of two separate matters that are before the same court.
The court is still to make a ruling on case numbers 580/14 and 704/14.
In case 580/14, Rev Tshuma’s faction made an application for a declaration that he (Tshuma) was the rightful overseer and president.
Nyathi’s faction in turn sought the court’s help in stopping the ordination of Rev Tshuma as the overseer and president of the church in Zimbabwe. Both matters are pending at the Bulawayo High Court.
Meanwhile, there was tension outside the High Court around 9AM when members of both factions came to show solidarity to their leaders.
The two factions stood facing each other separated by 8th Avenue at the intersection with Hebert Chitepo.
First to arrive at the court was Nyathi and his handful of followers and security personnel around 9:45AM.
Rev Tshuma later arrived to ululations, singing and whistling from scores of his followers.
Some of his security personnel were refused entry at the court by police officers manning the court with only 25 of his ministers allowed in.
Early this month, Kwekwe provincial magistrate Vimbai Mutukwa ordered the squabbling Mbizo branch not to interfere with each other’s operations until the pending High Court case in Bulawayo was resolved.
Nyathi’s faction accuses Rev Tshuma of fraudulently taking over the reins of the church in 2008, abuse of church funds and allegedly grabbing a church-owned farm in Mangwe, Matabeleland South, charges he vehemently denies.
The AFM was founded in Zimbabwe by Rev Morgan Sengwayo in 1955. Following Sengwayo’s death in 1982, Rev Philemon Sibanda was appointed church overseer.
In 1985, squabbles rocked the church following allegations of adultery against Sibanda, which prompted him to break away from the Pelandaba church with disgruntled members and formed his own church, renaming it Apostolic Faith Mission of Africa.
Sibanda died in 2008 and Tony Tshuma succeeded him.
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