The Anglican Communion News Service reports a welcome and surprising development:
Anglicans across Zimbabwe and the Communion are celebrating today after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that the Bishop of Harare, the Rt Revd Chad Gandiya is the lawful trustee of diocesan church properties. This decision means Anglicans will once again be able to worship in their church buildings, and the diocese can retake control of other properties including schools, clinics and orphanages.
It is the end of a six year-long battle with an excommunicated bishop, Nolbert Kunonga who left the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) and founded his own rival church. His claims to church properties in Harare and elsewhere in Zimbabwe resulted in worshippers being kicked out of churches–often violently–and clergy losing their homes and places of work.
Bishop of Harare, the Rt Revd Chad Gandiya said he was “elated” at the news that the Supreme Court had ruled in their favour. In an open letter to the Church and its supporters he wrote: “My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, this is your victory! This is your hour! Give all the glory to our almighty Father in heaven. I want to immediately call upon all our people to be gracious in winning the legal battle. Now let the work begin!
“With the good news about the Supreme Court judgement in our favour, I am once again calling on all members of our beloved diocese and friends both near and far to heed to our call to join us in…rebuilding the diocese.”
Kunonga was protected during a reign of terror against his ecclesiastical adversaries by Bernard Malango, the former primate of Central Africa, and one of the authors whose name lent such moral authority to the Windsor Report.