adminschool premises.
The church, through the Methodist Missionary Society built a church building and a school in the area before the church handed over the school to the local authority. The Methodist Church claims it remained in possession of the church building that has been used without problems until 2010 when Ms Mavis Shayamano, a member of the SDC, pushed for the eviction of the church members from the church building.
Ms Shayamano, who was cited in the High Court papers filed this week, is believed to be the ring leader in the fight to deny the church access to its building.
The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, through its leader for Kwenda District Bishop Aaron Makiwa, filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court to stop Ms Shayamano and the SDC from completely destroying the building. Justice Joseph Musakwa is expected to hear the matter in his chambers this week.
According to Bishop Makiwa, the church was built in 1933 and the school was built in 1939 at the same premises. Upon completion of the school, the church registered the school in accordance with the then prevailing statutes and it became operational. In 1973, the church formalised its occupation of the whole site by concluding a lease agreement with the then Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Government of Rhodesia. In line with policy issues of the time, the school was handed over to the local authority that assumed control while the church retained the unhindered use of the church building.
The state of affairs prevailed until 2010 when Ms Shayamano representing the SDC, attempted to bar the church members from accessing the church building. Chikomba Rural District Council, which now operates the school, came to the rescue of the Methodists. Considering the historical background of the school, Bishop Makiwa states, Chikomba RDC in 2011 agreed to hand over Hokonya Primary School to the church.
While the transition process was still under way, Bishop Makiwa said, the SDC had started demolishing the church building.
Online Reporter