adminVeronica Gwaze
The United Pentecostal Church in Zimbabwe held its Easter Conference in Kwekwe under the guard of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe National Army, in case violence erupted.
The church is mired in leadership disputes that have resulted in nine court cases.he United Pentecostal Church in Zimbabwe held its Easter Conference in Kwekwe under the guard of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe National Army, in case violence erupted.
In some of the cases, Pastor Clifford Makandise is the complainant while in others he is the defendant.
In Bulawayo, he has a case against Sabelo Gwebu and another case against Pastors Edward Gwebu, Samuel Mugwiji and Pride Nhokwara.
In Harare, at the High Court, he has cases against Pastors Samuel Mugwiji and Reverend Antony Wungano Nyandoro, another against Rev Nyandoro; and another against Pastors Innocent Toriro, Nhokwara, Gwebu and Livious Moyo.
A senior pastor in the church, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said: “These fights have dragged the church’s name into the mud and most congregants are leaving church.”
He said the ZRP and ZNA provided security at their Easter Conference to quell the threat of violence.
“This is the first we have had such a conference and because there were fears of violence erupting, the security forces were asked to be on stand-by,” he said.
A major problem congregants have with Pr Makandise’s leadership is that he allowed the Zimbabwe People First party to use a church property in Eastlea.
This, they say, is in contravention of the church’s constitution which bars leasing of its property to political parties.
Reached for comment, Pr Makandise said the issues would be resolved internally.
“Yes, there are things happening at our church, but they are still internal .
“Therefore, will be resolved internally so I cannot comment further,” he said.
Online Reporter