PROBLEMS bedevilling the Apostolic Faith Mission in
Zimbabwe are far from over as suspensions of officials continue despite
promises by the new church president, Reverend Amon Madawo, to unite the
troubled flock.
Soon after taking office earlier this month, Rev Madawo
vowed to resolve differences between his faction and that led by his bitter
rival, Rev Cossam Chiyangwa.
However, Rev Madawo’s camp has served pastors allegedly
aligned to Rev Chiyangwa with suspension letters signed off by a Rev Tembo.
One of the affected pastors is AFM Dzivarasekwa leader Rev
Olga Maraura, who was suspended without benefits on November 14, 2018.
She was ordered to appear before a disciplinary hearing on
December 1, 2018. Rev Maraura said she would snub the “illegal hearing” because
Rev Tembo had no legal right to suspend her.
The suspension letter reads, “It is alleged that you are
one of the pastors in AFM Harare West province who did all, some or any of the
following;
“Declared your allegiance to the Chiyangwa led breakaway
group to your assembly or the provincial committee or a provincial committee
member. “Absented yourself from the provincial elections held by
our province on October 6, 2018.
“Attended elections held by the Chiyangwa led breakaway
group. Hedging your bets between identity with either the
Chiyangwa led breakaway group and the main group led by the properly elected
leadership of the church.”
Rev Maraura was also charged with breaching communication
channels by discussing the AFM constitution at meetings not sanctioned by the
church leadership.
However, Rev Chiyangwa’s general secretary Dr Nathan Nhira
shot down the suspensions, saying Rev Madawo leadership was voted out and the
courts were yet to rule on the contests.
“The purpose of this letter is to advise your assembly or
board not to consider correspondences from Rev Madawo and Rev Tembo,” he wrote
to affected clergy.
“Your provincial committee will committee to address your
board and congregation at the earliest convenience in order to remove the
confusion that might have been caused by these letters.”
Rev Maraura said she was being pushed out despite even
erecting a three-storey building for AFM.
“I am not going anywhere; I am here to stay,” she added. Rev Madawo did not respond to questions sent to him last
week. Sunday Mail
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