HARARE An operational order has uncovered support from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for excommunicated former Anglican Church of Zimbabwe bishop Nolbert Kunonga The order dated March 26 shows the ZRPs grand plan to aid Kunonga, who has been blocking Anglican church members who support Bishop Gandiya from attending services.
Gandiya took over from Sebastian Bakare, who had been caretaker bishop when Kunonga was excommunicated by the Church of the Province of Central Africa in May 2008.
The order tells all officers in charge at police stations in Harare to ensure that one church service is conducted by Kunonga faction and to deploy PISI details at all Anglican churches for intelligence gathering in their respective areas of policing and to deploy patrol teams to saturate their areas.
At St Lukes in Greendale, the ZRP recommended 10 police details be deployed at the church to prevent worshippers belonging to the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) from conducting a service.
An avid supporter of President Robert Mugabe, Kunonga still claims ownership of the dioceses Anglican churches and has supported the intimidation and persecution of Anglicans in Zimbabwe for opposing his and Mugabes leadership.
Despite a High Court order instructing Gandiya and Kunonga to share church buildings, Kunongas group is accused of locking up church doors every Sunday to prevent their rivals from entering the buildings to hold prayers, while the police have been on hand to chase away Gandiyas followers every time they tried to insist on their right to use the churches.
Post published in: News