Msindo is facing five rape charges after his former maid accused him of raping her and using his mobile telephone to photograph her after her ordeal.
Ironically, senior members of the Zanu (PF) Women’s League, among them, vice president Joice Mujuru, Oppah Muchinguri, Olivia Muchena, Irene Zindi, Abigail Damasane, Nyasha Chikwinya and another only identified as Amai Tembani are some of the senior women in the ruling party supporting Msindo’s participation in ruling party’s strategy to capture the Christian vote.
At the Zanu congress in December, Msindo, the head of the government-sponsored shadowy Destiny for Africa Network, was an official delegate. He sat among members of the secretariat from the departments of information and the commissariat.
A source in the Central Intelligence Organisation told The Zimbabwean that Msindo and Kunonga were regular visitors at their various offices scattered across the country.
“They have direct access to senior intelligence officers, and are generally referred to as belonging to the Religious and Spiritual Needs Department,” said the source, a middle ranking member of the CIO.
He revealed that Msindo who has a small membership base was able to rent expensive offices at the Rainbow Towers grounds, formerly Sheraton Towers through State assistance.
“There is a belief in Zanu (PF) that the majority of religious leaders sympathise with the opposition. That is why Msindo and Kunonga have for a long time been courted to give the impression that there are many Christians who support their policies.”
Kunonga blessed the inauguration ceremony of President Robert Mugabe after controversially winning the 2002 Presidential elections while Msindo presided at a function to bury a national hero at the Heroes Acre.
Msindo is expected to use housing projects expected to be launched soon to woo people. Kunonga, the sources said, would use the money to finance a breakaway faction of the Anglican Church, with most of the money going towards the setting up of structures and offices.
“Kunonga’s role is to cause confusion in the Anglican community, retaining some of the members by using government-funded programmes.”
Last week, Kunonga announced that he was forming The Church of the Province of Zimbabwe after he was expelled as head of The Anglican Church. He announced that the first five dioceses would be Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Chitungwiza and Harare. – Own correspondent
Post published in: News