Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure
News Editor
THE Apostolic Faith Mission of Zimbabwe (AFMoZ) presidium led by Reverend Dr Cossam Chiangwa has approached the Supreme Court in a bid to overturn a High Court judgment that nullified the church’s May 3, 2025 leadership elections.
The appeal, lodged on August 17, 2026, came barely a week after High Court Judge, Justice Tawanda Chitapi, ruled that the election which ushered in the current leadership was unlawful and ordered fresh polls within 30 days.
However, the filing of the appeal automatically suspends the execution of the High Court judgment, allowing Dr Chiangwa and his leadership team to remain in office pending the determination of the matter by the Supreme Court.
As a result, Dr Chiangwa, deputy president, Reverend Amon Chinyemba, general secretary, Dr Nathan Nhira and national administrator, Mr Shepherd Sebata, will continue discharging their duties while the legal challenge is being heard.
The development ensured that Dr Chiangwa remained at the helm of the church as the AFMoZ General Spiritual Conference which opened yesterday at the Mufaro Conference Centre in Masvingo.
Notably, Mufaro is the same venue where the National Apostolic Council convened on February 8, 2025 and resolved to raise the constitutional age limit for candidates seeking the church’s top leadership positions from 65 to 70 years.
That decision lies at the heart of the legal dispute.
The appeal effectively shifts the battle from questions of procedure to broader issues of constitutional interpretation, with the Supreme Court expected to determine whether the National Apostolic Council had the authority to amend the age requirement without following the church’s formal constitutional amendment procedures.
It will also consider whether a technical defect in an opposing affidavit was sufficient grounds to invalidate an entire election and order the installation of an interim administration not expressly provided for in the church constitution.
In court papers, the appellants seek to have the High Court judgment set aside and the May 3, 2025 election declared lawful and valid.
“The appellants seek an order setting aside the judgment of the High Court and declaring the election of the presidium held on May 3, 2025 to be lawful and valid,” reads part of the appeal.
The original application was filed by church elders, Messrs Daniel Mhlanga and Dennis Maposa under Case No. HCH2288/26.
The two argued that the February 8, 2025 council resolution increasing the age limit from 65 to 70 years was unconstitutional, and that the subsequent election conducted under that framework was therefore invalid.
In his ruling, Justice Chitapi upheld the application after striking the respondents’ opposing affidavit from the record.
The court found that the date on the affidavit had been inserted by the deponent rather than by the Commissioner of Oaths, contrary to provisions of the Justices of Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act.
“The commissioner must also endorse the date on which the oath was administered, and those acts must occur contemporaneously,” reads part of the judgment.
Following that ruling, the High Court directed the church to elect an interim committee of five former overseers within 48 hours to administer church affairs and prepare for fresh elections. The committee was barred from making policy decisions.
The Supreme Court appeal has suspended that directive, together with the court order declaring Dr Chiangwa, Reverend Chinyemba and Dr Nhira ineligible to contest any fresh election.
It has also put on hold a ruling that only candidates who qualified for office as at May 3, 2025 could participate in any rerun.
Dr Chiangwa previously maintained that the church had not been found guilty of breaching its constitution.
“The High Court has not found any constitutional breaches by AFMoZ. The correct position is that the matter fell on a default judgment owing to a technicality with the court papers. We have since utilised remedies available in the courts and are awaiting the court’s decision. As the matter is sub judice, we cannot discuss it further,” he said.
Seeking to reassure congregants following the court ruling, Dr Nhira issued a memorandum on August 18, 2026 to overseers, pastors and church members across the country.
He described reports suggesting the leadership had ceased to exist as misleading.
“Although a judgment was initially issued by the High Court in relation to matters arising from the recent elections, the matter is currently subject to an appeal before the Supreme Court. Accordingly, the church’s leadership structures remain in place and are continuing to discharge their constitutional responsibilities and duties in the normal course of business pending the determination of the appeal,” he said.
Dr Nhira urged members to remain calm and avoid speculation while awaiting the outcome of the appeal.
“AFMoZ remains committed to respecting the rule of law, following due process and preserving the unity, peace and orderly administration of the Body of Christ,” he said.
The dispute stems from the February 8, 2025 National Apostolic Council meeting, which approved the increase of the presidential age limit from 65 to 70 years. The amendment paved the way for the May 3, 2025 elections that produced the current presidium.
Besides ordering fresh elections, Justice Chitapi’s ruling nullified key decisions and resolutions made by the leadership after May 3, 2025, including provincial delimitation exercises.
