Churches Seized By Police In Zimbabwe
Churches Seized By Police In Zimbabwe
The harrassment of Anglicans in Zimbabwe continues as an excommunicated bishop claims ownership of a shrine and churches
08/02/2011 Zimbabwe (Christian Today)-An excommunicated bishop is continuing to make life miserable for Anglicans in Zimbabwe.
Norbert Kunonga, a close ally of President Robert Mugabe, reportedly went on national television to declare that he was in charge of a popular shrine and all churches in the Diocese of Masvingo.
The Anglican Church has a total of 78 churches in Masvingo Diocese, 45 in Chikomba District and 33 in Buhera District.
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A spokesperson for the diocese said: “Kunonga didn’t stop his disturbances by simply writing to the officer commanding Chikomba District to bar us from having the Shearly Cripps commemoration done by the shrine, but he also used the police to forcibly take church properties in Chivhu.”
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Anglican Bishop, the Rt Rev G Tawonezvi met with police in Chivhu to work out a solution but the commanding officer upheld Kunonga’s claim to ownership of the Church’s properties and the shrine.
Anglicans in Zimbabwe have been fighting for ownership of their churches since Kunonga’s excommunication in 2007.
On July 25, the priest-in-charge for Chivhu Church District, the Venerable Shamuyarira, was reportedly detained by police in Chivhu for nearly three hours in an attempt to make him hand over keys to Anglican properties.
It is believed he was taken in to the station following a directive from Kunonga.
On July 31, Kunonga, along with supporters and seven police officers, forced their way into Daramombe Mission, where they proceeded to hold a service and meeting.
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