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Court Reporter
A war of words has erupted among members of Guta RaMwari Church who reportedly openly insulted each other using unprintable words during a service on Sunday. The church, founded by the late Taxwell Tayali and his wife, Mrs Laizah Tayali in 1962, has been rocked by serious infighting resulting in members dragging each other to court.
There are two factions whose members are always at each other’s throats fighting for control of sermons and this has been going on since the death of the founders.
On Wednesday, a church elder, Joel Mabhena (58) appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Temba Chimiso facing a charge of contempt of court after he allegedly insulted an elder in the break away faction, Mr Joseph Bakuru Tayali.
The two allegedly had a misunderstanding during service when Mr Tayali told Mabhena not to allow congregants to sing while Evangelist Stephen Sibanda was still preaching.
Mabhena, of 1306 Emganwini, who is the chairman of the church services, was remanded out of custody on his own cognisance to 8 November for start of trial.
The charge of contempt of court emanates from the fact that there is a peace order granted by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha in July permanently barring rival factions from interfering with church proceedings.
Mabhena is a member of the church’s council alongside Messrs Joseph Bingo Malunga, Eliphas Nkatha, Gideon Ngwenya, Moses Mahlangu Manzini, Harold Sowa, Donald Sibanda, Jaconia Nkatha, Ferdinand Moyo and Chico Nyoni.
Mr Tayali leads a breakaway faction comprising Messrs Joel Tawadzera, Evangelist Sibanda, Francis Mwene and Calvin Chauke.
The court was told that some church members would allegedly insult preachers or disturb the proceedings as they sought to be the sole speakers.
The court was told that on Sunday while at a church service at the church’s headquarters in Old Lobengula at about 6.30am, there was an uproar over allocation of time to preachers.
It is alleged that while Evangelist Sibanda was still preaching, Mabhena wanted church members to sing but was told to stop by Mr Tayali.
The court was told that Mabhena allegedly insulted Mr Tayali using unprintable words and also told him that the church was not his in front of members thereby allegedly impairing his dignity.
Mr Tayali reported the matter to the police after service leading to the arrest of Mabhena.
Miss Mitchelle Chiboiwa is representing the State.
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