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Wallace Ruzvidzo Herald Reporter
A faction of Christ Ministries Church aligned to Reverend Collin Makoni, son of the church founder, was yesterday barred from conducting a service at the church’s premises in Belvedere, Harare.
Rev Collin Makoni is locked in a serious leadership wrangle of the church with his mother, Reverend Leddie Makoni.
Christ Ministries Church, one of the country’s first post-Independence indigenous churches, was founded by Bishop Cuthbert Makoni who died in December 2017.
Since then, some church members have known no peace as factional wars played out. Despite losing court battles, the group aligned to Rev Leddie Makoni is refusing to concede defeat. Yesterday, Rev Collin Makoni’s followers were blocked from conducting a service by a security firm hired by the group coalescing around Rev Leddie Makoni. A church service for her faction was in full swing.
In an interview, Rev Collin Makoni said he was not sure why his mother was not heeding the court’s directive. He said his mother was now 87 years old, and almost unable to make firm day-to-day decisions for the church and that others close to his mother were calling the shots.“We have all these papers which show that I am legally the one who is supposed to take up the leadership role of the church but those around my mother are making decisions for her and taking advantage of her because she is very old now,” he said.
“We just want those that are currently in the church to take heed of the High Court’s ruling because I do not understand why they are refusing us entry into the premises yet we are the ones legally in charge. They have gone as far as employing security and giving them a list of names of people who are not permitted to enter the premises including me and my family.”
Yesterday, a notice of appointment from the group around Rev Collin Makoni of the Church’s head of denomination and the executive board was flighted in the The Sunday Mail. The notice included Rev Leddie Makoni as a life member of the executive board.
“The founding members of Christ Ministries Church are pleased to announce the appointment of Reverend Collin Zondai Makoni as president and 1st secretary of Christ Ministries Church with effect from 21 August 2023.
“The founding members also passed a resolution for the appointment of new executive board members in pursuance of the provision of the constitution of Christ Ministries Church, the new members were furnished with their appointment letters and submitted their names to the office of Registrar General in compliance with the registration law.
“The following were appointed as members of the Christ Ministries Church executive board with immediate effect: Mr Eustace Makoni, vice president and 2nd secretary, Dr Leddie Makoni – life member, Mr Tichafa Mburiyakura – secretary/ administration, Mr Gerald Machiri – treasurer, Mr Honesty Chironda – board member, Mr Dickson Kanyangu – board member, Pastor Obert Madoromadi – board member, Mr Obert Makaza – board Member, Pastor Kudzai Mugwira – board member, Dr Stephen Mahere – board member,” reads the notice.
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