adminCletus Mushanawani News Editor
UGLY leadership wrangles have erupted at St Agnes Anglican Church in Chikanga where parishioners are now boycotting receiving the Holy Communion and paying Sunday offerings in protest over the new priest.
The restive situation has resulted in the transfer of the priest-in-charge, Reverend Magurupira, to St Augustine’s Mission in Penhalonga after he was locked out of the church.
The marauding parishioners have frankly told Rev Magurupira that he was no longer wanted and should pack his bags.
His crime was that he is siding with another faction that is fighting for the control of the church.
Correspondences from the warring parties have been flying left, right and centre, while accusations and counter-accusations have become the order of the day.
Things came to a boil on March 15, 2015 after keys to the church went missing. The church treasurer, Mr Victor Ndiringepi, subsequently reported the matter to wardens, Mrs Mbetsa and Mr Chirochierwa, resulting ia search for the keys that yielded nothing.
Allegations were that a group led by Mr Samuel Magada stole the keys and locked the office. They allegedly changed the padlocks and disappeared.
Not to be outdone, the other camp led by St Agnes church wardens blocked the church door keys at around 2.30pm, but Mr Magada and his team allegedly came back around 4pm and unblocked the keys.
It is alleged that they proceeded to lock the office and approached Rev Magurupira and introduced itself as the new church council. They allegedly demanded the Isuzu KB200 Registration Number ABD 9542 car keys.
Rev Magurupira was also asked to vacate the church premises with immediate effect and he complied.
A police report had to be made at Chikanga Police Station and the report number was given as OB23/7/15 following the disturbances at the church.
In an interview on Wednesday, the church’s diocesan registrar, Mr Ashley Mutungura, confirmed the developments at St Agnes but said it was a small issue being blown out of proportion by people fighting for leadership positions.
“As the church’s leadership in the province we had to intervene to try to bring order after people were fighting for leadership positions. Yes, it is also true that Rev Magurupira was transferred from the church and is now back at St Augustine’s Mission as the priest-in-charge. His removal from St Augustine’s Mission was unceremoniously done by the outgoing bishop, Bishop Julius Makoni, and we felt he had failed to execute his duties at St Agnes by taking sides with one group instead of addressing the real issues affecting the church’s administration.
“As you might be aware that the church was once split between those aligned to the ex-communicated bishop Jakazi and the Church of the Province of Central Africa. CPCA members were worshipping at the Manicaland Agricultural Show grounds, while those aligned to Jakazi remained in the church. Our Archbishop Chama categorically stated that those who were worshipping at the show grounds were the legitimate owners of the church property and that is what we are simply executing. Archbishop unequivocally said the church was prepared to remain with six members, a message which was delivered to the congregants by the diocesan secretary, Mr Mbona.
“I also read them a letter written by Archbishop Chama when he was still the dean of the CPCA dated January 14, 2010 addressing the issue of church membership following the split,” said Mr Mutungura.
However, the disgruntled church members have since petitioned the chairperson of the Anglican churches in Zimbabwe, Rev Cleopas Lunga, registering their displeasure on the developments at the church.
Part of the petition which this paper has in possession reads: “The conflict in the church for which audience was sought with the Vicar-General arose from disturbances instigated by Mrs A Ritsire at the aborted annual vestry (elections) which was supposed to be held on March 8, 2015. The dispute arose as a result of contestation over unaccounted church funds from the previous vestry. Unaudited income and expenditure accounts presented for the year ended December 31, 2013 stated a bank balance of about $6 000 whose income and expenditure flow up to the vestry in March 2014 was not accounted for.
“Vestry in 2014 requested for audited 2013 financial accounts as provided for in the Acts of the Diocese, Chapter 10.3a. the outgoing 2013 council did not only failed to provide the requested audited accounts, but went on to hold on to the church’s books of accounts and bank account to which Mrs Ristire, Mrs Mufandaedza and Mr Magada remain signatories even after relinquishing their positions through a credible vestry held on March 2014. The same group of people now claim to be legitimate custodians of the church without a vestry.”
The disputed Stanbic church account number was given as 024009166001.
Mr Mutungura said the disputed account was opened by congregants who used to fellowship at the show grounds and had nothing to do with those who remained at St Agnes.
He said part of the money was used to pay legal fees after some church members were arrested during their fight to reclaim the church property from the Jakazi-led parishioners at St Agnes.
Disgruntled members also accused Archbishop Chama of bias, something Mr Mutungura dismissed, arguing that everything regarding operations at St Agnes were above board.
The church members also queried the appointment of Reverend Gilbert Sambona as the priest-in-charge since he had been suspended by Bishop Makoni.
The parishioners wrote: “While we are not privy to the details leading to the suspension of some priests, it is astounding that before the ink on the Rt Rev Dr Julius Makoni’s resignation letter has even dried, those previously suspended have already been reinstated.”
However, a letter written to Bishop Makoni by the church’s provincial registrar, Dr Fanuel Sumaili dated June 10, 2014, which was shown to this publication revoked Rev Sambona’s suspension.
Online Reporter