Addressing ululating congregants gathering together for the first time since a November Supreme Court ruling that gave back the Anglican Province of Central Africa properties that had been wrested by a breakaway group led by Bishop Nolbert Kungonga, Gandiya expressed joy that normalcy was returning.
After worshippers observed a minute of silence in memory of an elderly woman who was killed during one of the fights to control Anglican properties in the last five years, Gandiya urged: “We must forgive those that wronged us. We should ensure that there will never be a repetition of what happened in the past”.
He added: “While I am not saying we should completely obliterate what happened in the past from our memories, we should be careful not to keep remembrances that would enslave us.”
Turning to church property, Gandiya said: “Our churches and schools are in need of repair. All members of the Harare Diocese and friends, let’s rebuild the walls of our Diocese. We mostly need paint. Are you ready to help?”
Jubilant congregants who turned the park into a sea of white and blue also celebrated that the “police are now with us and for us” at the service that was also attended by prominent delegates from the southern African region.
The police had in the past been rapped for siding with the Kunonga faction.
Since 2007, there have been bitter wrangles between the Anglican Church and Kunonga’s breakway church that assumed control of all the properties.
During this period, the Sunday congregation was told by speakers, crèches and schools belonging to the church were abused by Kunonga’s followers, with one kindergarten being turned into a centre for the abuse of children.
Kunonga, a Zanu (PF) erstwhile activist, is also accused of desecrating the Bernard Mizeki Shrine in Mashonaland East, closing down schools and diverting money from the church for personal gain.
The Supreme Court in mid-November ruled that since Kunonga had formed his own church, he had no right to hold onto Anglican properties.
He subsequently went back to the High Court to stop the eviction of his followers, but the court said it had no jurisdiction to deliberate over his case.
Post published in: News
I fail to understand why people like Kunonga are so power hungry to the extent of causing suffering to other fellow Zimbabweans and its painful and disgusting that Zanu PF was backing him. Its a question of birds of the same feathers I think. I applaud all the Aglican worshippers who stood together in such a trying time and the decency you have shown to move on. Can you please remain united and rebuild what was destroyed and we are there to help you. Like the Catholics I hope you will be able to start a relief service like the Catholic Relief Services to help the vulnerably zimbabweans and I hope you have the the time to do so now that you have that bothering monkey off the back. Keep up the good work.