There was confusion in the Bishop Chad Gandiya led Anglican church on Sunday after Police at Bonda in Manicaland arrested CPCA Church wardens together with Reverend Mukome who are not aligned to the disgraced Bishop Nolbert Kunonga.
Following the Anglican CPCA church’s recent Supreme Court victory over Bishop Kunonga, and several peaceful and police assisted evictions, the CPCA issued a statement stating that local Bishop Julius Makoni was yesterday shocked to hear that legitimate wardens were arrested by the Police after entering the church premises.
The CPCA in November won a Supreme Court ruling which gave it powers to take back all properties seized by the ex-communicated Bishop Kunonga who had previously used his ZANU PF party to organise police and state powers against the church stating he was the legitimate leader after founding his own grouping named as the Anglican Church Province of Zimbabwe.
Following skirmishes in the past seven days in which Police were seen gladly assisting CPCA across the country to repossess the church properties, the church yesterday (Sunday) however reported the opposite:

“Police in Bonda today arrested Anglican Manicaland CPCA Church wardens and Reverend Mukome for allegedly illegally entering their Church building at Bonda Mission,” the CPCA reported ina  statement.
“Bishop Julius Makoni had held a very successful church service at Bonda, and at the time of the arrest, he had already left for Mutare. Bishop Makoni is unsure why the police have done this because last week in Mutare they had peaceful services in their church buildings at Mufudzi Wakanaka and St Agnes Chikanga.
May the Church continue to pray for a peaceful transition in the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland, where the ex-communicated Elson Jakazi, like Harare’s Dr Nolbert Kunonga, mounting serious obstacles in our way to freedom of worship, ” the statement read.

Artisan Studios caught in the fiery storm

Meanwhile, a local studio for musicians, ARTISAN Studios which was renting space in the prestigious CBD Harare cathedral, was last week in a limbo having been evicted by the CPCA.
Reports state that the development enforced by the police, will see several musicians billed for recordings being negatively affected by the eviction. The local paper, Newsday reported that the studio once regarded as the best venue for rehearsing by musicians from other stables, a reputation which saw Artisan Studios booking artistes for rehearsals, is now seeking alternative accomodation.
Allan Dzobo, the director of the studio, said they were yet to find alternative accommodation.
“We are in the process of finding a new place, but we still have to engage the authorities since we have leases.
“For the meantime, I cannot really say where we are going, but as we settle the matter we will be advising our clients of our new location,” he said.
 
Small disturbances in Harare
Despite the incidences in Manicaland, there weas however little resistance and less difficulty in the church’s Harare diocese. Bishop Chad Gandiya’s spokesperson, mr. Precious Shumba issued a statement that mass was conducted peacefully in several buildings across Harare apart from Glen View where riot police were called in to quell dissent against legitimate parisioners.
“This weekend we have not witnessed any cases of violence and church services were conducted peacefully. The evictions are also going on peacefully with people moving out without any resistance. Tomorrow (today) we will be looking at other areas where there is some resistance,” said Mr. Shumba.