He threatened them with unspecified action, vowing that they would be severely punished for their endorsement of the newly appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Harare under the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) Sebastian Bakare.
Munyanyi, using a white pick up truck registration number ABC2490, went to St Paul’s in Highfield, St Elizabeth in Belvedere and at the Anglican Cathedral in central Harare, where he threatened the priests and warned them against supporting Bishop Bakare. He was accompanied by six other men, believed to be hired hooligans to instil fear into church leaders supporting Bakare.
When contacted on his mobile number, Munyanyi, also formerly the Chaplain of the Anglican Vabvuwi Guild, said he would discipline everyone who opposed Kunonga and do everything within his capacity to unleash security people to all churches to stop Bakare from holding further services in Harare’.
“We are in a state of crisis. I will visit people who support Kunonga in their homes, and they will sing in praise of Kunonga once I have done something to them. I want to come to your house and beat you up,” said Munyanyi.
Eye witnesses at the churches say Munyanyi was disguised in boxer shorts, a t-shirt and a sunhat instead of wearing his priestly attire.
Kunonga voluntarily left the Anglican Church in October and tendered his resignation with the then Archbishop of the CPCA, Bishop Malango, who accepted his resignation.
On 7 November 2007, the Dean of the CPCA Alfred Chama appointed Bakare as the Acting Bishop and also the Vicar General of the Diocese of Harare (CPCA) until a new Bishop is properly elected within a year at a properly constituted Synod (Church annual general meeting). He has been given widespread support by clergy and laity.- Precious Shumba
Post published in: News