Bishop sparks political storm

The head of PAOZ, Bishop Trevor Manhanga, is said to have instructed the churchs overseer for Harare, Bishop Never Muparutsa, not to renew the credentials for a number of pastors suspected to be linked to the MDC. One good example is Lawrence Berejena, a rather young pastor who is always very vocal against some ungodly practices in the church. He has been summoned to numerous disciplinary hearings for no apparent reasons, so that they justify the decision not to renew his credentials this year, a source told Radio VOP on Sunday.

Berejena is alleged to have ruffled Manhangas feathers when he complained about the invitation of a number of politicians to preach at a PAOZ conference last year. He invited a number of politicians, among them Jonathan Moyo and RBZ governor Gideon Gono, to come and give sermons at a church conference, when there were many known Christian leaders who could have done it, said the source. PAOZ is an umbrella body comprising various Pentecostal denominations in the country. Manhanga is accused of being a Zanu (PF) apologist and is believed to be friendly with both Gono and Moyo.

Neither of these could be reached for comment at the time of going to press, and Manhangas mobile went unanswered. In addition, Manhanga is allegedly trying to turn the various

independent churches that he presides over into denominations of the PAOZ. This would see him tightening his grip on church assets and properties. It is, however, understood this

has met stiff resistance, with one assembly in Waterfalls in the process of taking him to court. The sources said a number of disgruntled pastors were already planning to withdraw some of the churches from under the PAOZ banner. This new development is in line with Zanu (PF)s strategy of infiltrating churches in an attempt to use them to whip up failing support

for the party in preparation for future elections.

The Anglican Church has been split for some years now, following the excommunication of the pro-Mugabe Nolbert Kunonga. Anglican churches are regularly the scene of violent

clashes between the police and Kunonga followers on one side and members of the faithful who do not wish to be involved in politics on the other. The international Anglican communion last year excommunicated Kunonga and appointed Bishop Sebastien Bakare as the acting head of the Harare Anglican community, until the recent appointment of a substantive Bishop, Chad Gandiya. The indigenous Christian grouping, known as the Vapostori, has long been infiltrated by Zanu (PF) and its members, who include Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri and former minister the late Border Gezi, are considered docile Zanu (PF) loyalists. Groups of Vapostori regularly sing and dance at Zanu (PF) rallies. With additional reporting

by Radio VOP