In July 2009, High Court judge Justice Ben Hlatshwayo ruled in favour of Kunonga in a property dispute between the deposed bishop and the new consecrated bishop, Chad Gandiya. Gandiya appealed that ruling in the Superme Court.
Over a year later, Chidyausiku has upheld that ruling, granting Kunonga custodianship of all Anglican property.
The Supreme Court also declared in its interim order that Bishop Gandiya remains the Bishop of Harare and therefore consecration of a new Bishop by Kunonga on 26 July 2009 or any date thereafter was stopped, pending the discharge or confirmation of the order on the return date.
Gandiya said in a letter to the Anglican communion seen by The Zimbabwean that the decision would cause chaos.
"You can well imagine the distress and chaos this is likely to result, especially for our priests who are living in rectories," Gandiya said in his letter to the church. "I am very concerned about the likely disturbances to my priests and their families. I am hopeful that common sense will prevail. How can he be given custodianship of properties of an organisation of which he is
not a member?"
The excommunicated Kunonga left the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) in 2007 to set up a rival church.
"If the Supreme Court does not return the properties to our church then we will have no way of appealing the decision," said Gandiya.
Post published in: News