adminMashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
THE Bulawayo High Court yesterday granted an order barring Guta Ra Mwari church leaders in Old Lobengula from interfering with their rivals’ services in Tshabalala suburb. The fragmented Guta Ra Mwari Church has split into three, with the chairman of its international council, Evangelist Joseph Bongo Malinga, leading a breakaway faction that has since opened a new base in Tshabalala suburb
Malinga had made an ex-parte application seeking to bar the other factions from interfering and disturbing church services at the new church. The ruling by Justice Maxwell Takuva cements the church’s split.
In August, the group that worships in Tshabalala won a similar ruling that barred Guta Ra Mwari, the original group in Old Lobengula from interfering with their services but the order only applied to the Tshabalala church.
However, the latest court order extends to other branches throughout the country, which are under the control of Guta Ra Mwari in Tshabalala.
In his ruling, Justice Takuva said: “It is ordered that the respondents or their agents or assignees to and are hereby permanently barred from unlawfully impeding or interfering in any manner or fashion with the applicant’s peaceful and undisturbed church services at Tshabalala.”
The ruling appears to be a blow to the Old Lobengula group led by Joseph Bakuru Tayali, which argued through its lawyer, Matshobana Ncube of Phulu and Ncube, that the breakaway faction in Tshabalala did not control any branch in or outside the country.
Justice Takuva ordered Guta Ra Mwari in Tshabalala’s lawyer, Zibusiso Ncube of Calderwood, Bryce and Partners, to submit a list of the branches that the group controls.
Guta Ra Mwari, Lobengula has a separate application pending for interdicting Guta Ra Mwari, Tshabalala from using the name Guta Ra Mwari.
“The applicant registered the church (CA1/2014) and now there are three different organisations with the name Guta Ra Mwari. One is Guta Ra Mwari Zvimiso, the other Guta Ra Mwari Religion and the new one Guta Ra Mwari,” read the application.
The other faction Guta Ra Mwari Zvimiso has its own leaders and uses the same premises in Old Lobengula, where members have at one point insulted each other using unprintable words during a church service. At one time the same members assaulted each other.
In his application, Malinga, representing the Tshabalala group, cited Guta Ra Mwari Religion, Tayali, Joel Tawedzera, Stephen Sibanda, Francis Mwene, Clavin Chauke and Sam Mkhithika as respondents.
“The applicant and respondents have mutually exclusive policies, principles and beliefs. Due to differences, the applicant has severed ties with Guta Ra Mwari. We have identified what would be a permanent solution to whatever problems the parties face as we have registered as a separate entity and desire to commence worship services at a different site in Tshabalala,” he said.
Formed in 1954 by Mai Chaza who became the first host, the church now has Guta Ra Mwari Religion based in Old Lobengula whose leaders are Tayali, Tawedzera, Sibanda, Mwene, Chauke and Mkhithika.
Tayali’s father, Taxwell Tayali was appointed second host after the death of Mai Chaza and with the help of his wife Laizah Tayali, registered the church as Guta Ra Mwari in 1974.
Following Taxwell and his wife’s death in 2003, the church has been rocked by serious infighting.
Online Reporter