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Herald Reporter
Members of the Apostolic Faith Church in Zimbabwe have been urged to shun all forms of violence and work towards complementing the Government’s efforts aimed at improving the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
This comes at a time when the church has been rocked by a number of legal and physical violence battles, aimed at resolving a succession dispute.
Addressing congregants at Chishiri, Buhera West Constituency yesterday, Mugodhi Apostolic Faith Church in Zimbabwe’s Bishop Washington Mugodhi, said it was time for the church to work towards nation-building and desist from violence.
“I call upon all church members that as we leave this place, let us do all we can to make sure that we participate in all activities aimed at uplifting the livelihoods of our children and the nation at large,” said Bishop Mugodhi.
“As a church, we should make sure that our children are educated. And as we prepare for our annual gathering to be held in Hwedza, let us all refrain from violence and let us also make sure we comply with the Government’s regulations on the fight against Covid-19 as we are not yet out of the woods. Let us also follow all rules in the communities we live in and assist traditional leaders in making sure that the country achieves the set objectives.”
Bishop Mugodhi’s remarks come at a critical time when Mugodhi church members have been physically attacking each other along factional lines.
Recently, some members were attacked, had their hands tied and were circulated as armed robbers, as factional fights reached a crescendo.
Problems in the church started in August 2019 after Bishop Washington Mugodhi was appointed leader of the church by his late father, Bishop Tadewu Mugodhi, which did not go down well with other members, resulting in the formation of a splinter group.
Mugodhi Apostolic Faith Church in Zimbabwe’s legal chairperson, Mr Tendai Mangani, said since the death of the church’s founder, the church has experienced a series of violent attacks from the splinter group that have crippled the church.
“Since the death of our leader we have been under a series of attacks from a splinter group which was against the appointment of our current church leader.
“At one point this splinter group came here at our church in Chishiri, Buhera West and forcibly opened the church and took away church property.
“After that our leaders reported the matter to the police but nothing until now has been done.We are appealing to authorities, if it is possible, the Government to come on board and assist us so that justice prevails. We have court rulings in our favour but this splinter group keeps violating them,” said Mr Mangani.
Buhera West legislator, Cde Soul Nzuma, graced the Mugodhi church Easter preparatory ceremony.
He promised to assist in the improvement of a local shrine at Chishiri as well as provide church members with transport to Chitope, in Hwedza, for the annual Passover gathering scheduled for mid-April.
Online Reporter