Judge backs Kunonga in wrangle over Anglican assets

Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba on Monday upheld an application by the Diocesan Trustees for the Diocese of Harare, led by Bishop Kunonga, to declare the board legitimate. This nullifies an appeal by the Church of the Province of Central Africa challenging a High Court decision by Justice Ben Hlatshwayo. Kunonga and the trustees argued that Justice Hlatshwayos July 24, 2009 order should be operational. Justice Malaba said Church of the Province of Central Africas appeal did not follow the bona fide purpose of testing the lower courts judgment. The dispute between the Harare diocese led by Kunonga and the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa has been raging for more than two years now. This latest move has led to the intervention of the government’s Organ on National Healing and Reconciliation.

“We were asked to intervene. We’re doing that right now so I can’t talk about it,” Co-Minister of National Healing, Sekai Holland told The Zimbabwean. Kunonga, who has the backing of President Robert Mugabe, has formed his own organization outside the official structures of the church, but insists on using church facilities, including meeting halls. He attempted to withdraw the entire Diocese of Harare from the Church of the province of Central Africa. A handful of believers joined Kunonga when he was ex-communicated from the Anglican church. Sebastian Bakare was appointed as the interim Bishop of Harare before Reverend Chad Gandiya took over as the substantive bishop.

A High Court order had instructed the feuding camps to share facilities while the matter was resolved but Kunonga, with the help of the police, has shut out members of the official church, forcing them sometimes to meet under trees and in open spaces in the city. Justice Malabas ruling was immediately dismissed by observers as politically motivated. An Anglican believer who refused to be named commented, The ruling is testimony that Kunonga is being compensated by Zanu (PF) for his unwavering support to the president and the former ruling party. The properties in question were built and bought by the Anglican Church of the province of Central Africa, and awarding them to Kunonga is dispossessing the rightful owners and empowering a partisan grouping with no interest in the development of the Anglican church.