Churches seized by police in Zimbabwe

An excommunicated bishop is continuing to make life miserable for Anglicans in Zimbabwe.

Norbert Kunonga, a close ally of President Robert Mugabe, reportedly went on national television to declare that he was in charge of a popular shrine and all churches in the Diocese of Masvingo.

The Anglican Church has a total of 78 churches in Masvingo Diocese, 45 in Chikomba District and 33 in Buhera District.

Kunonga's claim to ownership is being supported by local police, who wrote to local Anglicans telling them they had no right to go to the Arthur Shearly Cripps Shrine.

A spokesperson for the diocese said: "Kunonga didn't stop his disturbances by simply writing to the officer commanding Chikomba District to bar us from having the Shearly Cripps commemoration done by the shrine, but he also used the police to forcibly take church properties in Chivhu."

Anglicans were advised by their leaders against taking part in the annual pilgrim to the shrine last week after a court ruled that Dr Kunonga could not be prevented from attending the shrine.

Anglican Bishop, the Rt Rev G Tawonezvi met with police in Chivhu to work out a solution but the commanding officer upheld Kunonga's claim to ownership of the Church's properties and the shrine.

Anglicans in Zimbabwe have been fighting for ownership of their churches since Kunonga's excommunication in 2007.

On July 25, the priest-in-charge for Chivhu Church District, the Venerable Shamuyarira, was reportedly detained by police in Chivhu for nearly three hours in an attempt to make him hand over keys to Anglican properties.

It is believed he was taken in to the station following a directive from Kunonga.

On July 31, Kunonga, along with supporters and seven police officers, forced their way into Daramombe Mission, where they proceeded to hold a service and meeting.

Their occupation of the building meant that services for local parishioners had to be cancelled.

It was reported that during the meeting, Kunonga and his supporters discussed bringing in some of their own to replace leaders at the mission.