JOHANNESBURG -- Two senior Zimbabwe Anglican bishops have been told they could be assassinated, the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has revealed, as the fight for control of the church in the southern African country gets dirtier. The Anglican Church in Zimbabwe has been in turmoil ever since the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) the churchs supreme authority in the region — first suspended and later excommunicated a former bishop who is a close ally of President Robert Mugabes Zanu (PF) party.
Nolbert Kunonga, who as bishop of Harare attempted to use the pulpit to defend the Zimbabwean leaders controversial rule, was excommunicated in 2008 after trying to withdraw the Harare diocese from the Anglican Church. He claims he revolted against the mother church because it supported the ordination of gay priests.
Kunonga with the backing of government police and security agents has been able to grab control of church halls and other property in Harare and has regularly blocked Bishop Chad Gandiya — who was appointed head of the Harare diocese by the CPCA — and his followers from using the churches to worship.
Williams office said Kunonga, his supporters in Zanu (PF) and the security establishment have stepped up their campaign of intimidation with some priests not aligned to the renegade bishop arrested, while Gandiya and Bishop Julius Makoni of the Manicaland diocese were informed they were targets for assassination.
The situation for Anglicans in Zimbabwe is getting worse, said the office of Williams, who is the symbolic spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The statement to update Anglicans on developments in Harare which was released last Thursday, said: In the first week of October Bishop Julius (Makoni) and Bishop Chad (Gandiya) were informed that orders had been given to assassinate them both.
The Dean of Harare received threatening phone calls to this effect. Eight henchmen came to Julius’ house last week looking for violence, but he had thankfully just left.
According to Williams office the security establishment views Anglican bishops as supporting Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais MDC party and the campaign against the clergymen was to meant to force them to throw in their lot with the pro-ZANU PF Kunonga and by so doing end their perceived backing of Tsvangirai and his party.
Inside sources say that security forces see Anglican bishops as campaigning for MDC (there is no proof for this) and so Kunonga has been given support to eliminate them, Williams office said.
The office said Kunonga, who all along has been fighting to regain control of the Harare diocese was now claiming power over the whole of the Zimbabwean Anglican church as self-appointed bishop of Zimbabwe.
In addition to Harare and Manicaland, the Anglican Church has other dioceses in Masvingo, Central Zimbabwe and Matabeleland.
Gandiya and Makoni who have led resistance against Kunongas attempts to seize control of the Anglican church have maintained their clerical work despite the mounting intimidation but Williams office said various foreign embassies have said were ready to evacuate the bishops to safety should the need arise. ZimOnline.
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