Wednesday 25 October 2017

RIVAL VAPOSITORI SECTS FIGHT OVER UNIFORM

TWO rival groups belonging to an Apostolic Faith sect are locked in a protracted legal battle over the use of identical uniforms and doctrines.

The dispute between Nguvayekupedzisira Apostolic Church and a breakaway group renamed Vadzidzi Vakatendeka Apostolic Church of God has spilled into court.
Nguvayekupedzisira Apostolic Church, which is the original church, accuses rivals Vakatendeka Apostolic Church of God of using its church uniform and slogan to hoodwink and confuse its followers.

Nguvayekupedzisira Apostolic Church, through its lawyers, Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys has filed a chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing Vakatendeka Apostolic Church of God and its four leaders, Alphonse Mutasa, Richard Ncube, George Ndebele and Gibson Ganyaheme, as respondents.

The applicants are seeking an order interdicting Vakatendeka Apostolic Church of God from using its uniforms and church doctrine.

In his founding affidavit, Abel Ndowa — who is Archbishop of Nguvayekupedzisira Apostolic Church — said the respondents, a breakaway group, had no right to use their uniforms and slogans following a split which occurred in 2013.

Following the 2013 infighting between the two groups, an order was granted by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese ordering Mutasa to surrender church records and documents, funds and keys to their church building in Bulawayo’s Gwabalanda suburb.
“The respondents decided to pull out of our church and formed their own organisation. They then took strides to infiltrate our congregation and attempted to hoodwink some of our members into believing that they were the true and pure Nguvayekupedzisira Apostolic Church,” said Ndowa in the latest court application.

He said his members were deceived into believing that the respondents were working under the auspices of Nguvayekupedzisira Apostolic Church.

“I submit that the respondent’s constitution and ours are the same. The respondents copied word for word although there are minor alterations here and there,” he said.
Ndowa said Vadzidzi Vakatendeka Apostolic Church of God has adopted their uniforms to confuse their followers.

“It has come to our knowledge that the respondents are conducting their church services clothed in the same fashion as ours, and even chanting our church slogan. The conduct by respondents is designed to deceive our followers and confuse them by adopting our uniform,” he said.

Ndowa said his rivals’ conduct was a calculated move aimed at taking advantage of their reputation and trade mark, which has been in existence for the past 20 years.
Vakatendeka Apostolic Church of God has not yet responded to the application. Chronicle

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