Anglican Bishop of Harare: "Priest's arrest for 'theft' of US$1.5 million is baseless"

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Anglican Bishop of Harare: "Priest's arrest for 'theft' of US$1.5 
million is baseless"

Posted On : September 6, 2011 10:39 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
ACNS: 
<http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/9/6/ACNS4935>http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2011/9/6/ACNS4935 

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<http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/Zimbabwe>Zimbabwe

> From the Diocese of Harare, CPCA

Highlands Police today (Tuesday 6 September 2011) arrested Reverend 
Julius Zimbudzana, the priest in charge at St Mary's Anglican Church 
for allegedly taking over Anglican church property worth over US$1.5 
million as police intensified their persecution of the Anglican 
Church, hiding behind unjust court rulings.

Dr Nicholas Chad Gandiya, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of 
Harare in the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) 
immediately dismissed the charge as persecution of the Anglicans 
under the CPCA by the police, acting on the instructions of the 
ex-communicated Dr Nolbert Kunonga.

"That [accusation against Revd Julius] is unfounded, baseless and 
without foundation," Bishop Gandiya said. "This is very strange 
indeed as no parish in our diocese (perhaps the exception of the 
Cathedral Parish) has properties worth that much. He has been refused 
bail. The police claim they have clear instructions not to release him."

The Bishop says the intense persecution of the Anglican clergy under 
the CPCA has clearly gotten out of hand and most clergymen are 
traumatised by these sad developments. What has become apparent in 
these attacks is that rogue elements within the police are listening 
to instructions coming from Kunonga to use the law to abuse innocent 
people, denying them of their right to worship.

While Reverend Zimbudzana was arrested in the morning, Bishop Gandiya 
was only allowed access to the incarcerated priest at 6pm, as the 
police spent the whole day moving the priest from his residence and 
the Highlands Anglican Church claiming they wanted to inspect the 
properties stolen.
"They then brought a desk, a refrigerator that they claimed belonged 
to the church, and a Mothers' Union (MU) banner," Gandiya said. "Vari 
kuedza kutsvagiridza nyaya (They are desperate for a conviction). It 
looks like they just want to keep him detained as part of the 
harassment showing the clear breakdown of the rule of law."

Reverend Zimbudzana's arrest comes in the wake of the 4 August 2011 
ruling by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku in his Chambers in which 
he ruled that all Anglican properties in the Diocese of Harare were 
under the custody of Kunonga. At the same time Chidyausiku allowed an 
appeal by the CPCA against this determination to stand, but went on 
to refuse this appeal to suspend an earlier judgement by High Court 
Justice Hlatshwayo, a normal judicial and legal practice the world over.

CPCA lawyers are busy trying to secure the release of Reverend 
Zimbudzana and ensure other clergymen are free from further 
persecution. The right of worship as enshrined in the Country's 
Constitution has been violated and the CPCA calls on the national 
political leadership to immediately intervene and put a stop to 
Kunonga's abuse of the police services.

> Ends

For details and comments visit 

<http://www.hreanglicancpca.org.zw>http://www.hreanglicancpca.org.zw 
or email us on <mailto:cpcaharare@yahoo.com>cpcaharare@yahoo.com or 
<mailto:dhrecpca@ecoweb.co.zw>dhrecpca@ecoweb.co.zw