High Court bars demolition of Methodist Church building

 

Justice Joseph Musakwa granted an application by the church after the parties reached an agreement.
The church was built in 1933 before the Methodist Missionary Society built the school on the same premises in 1939.
The school was later handed over to the Government in line with the existing laws of the country.
All along, members of the church freely conducted their services in the school premises until 2010 when the SDC attempted to deny them access.

Recently the SDC instructed some people to demolish or alter the church building, a development that prompted the church leadership to file an urgent chamber application at the High Court.
A consent order was drafted by both parties before being sent to the High Court for endorsement.
The consent order bars the SDC from interfering with the church members or denying them access to their property in the school yard.
“Respondents shall stop the destruction or alteration of the church building which is located at Hokonya Primary School in Chivhu.

“They shall restore the said church building to the condition that it was in prior to the said destruction and or alteration. They shall not interfere with the applicant’s use of the church building located at Hokonya Primary School in Chivhu,” read part of the order.
The church leader in Chivhu District Bishop Aaron Makiwa said Methodists and the community at Hokonya should work together to develop the school in the spirit of forgiveness.

Bishop Makiwa said the church was more than willing to work with the community and that all the differences that existed before the court order should be buried.

“We want to unify the community. As a church we appreciate that the whole community was made up of one family that was being divided by this dispute.
“We would want to urge members of the community to forgive each other. We must unite and develop the   school as one body,” said Bishop Makiwa.

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