|
ANGLICAN-INFORMATION
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
ANGLICAN-INFORMATION has been asked to carry the following press release from the Rev’d Nicholas Henderson, bishop – elect, Diocese of Lake Malawi, Province of Central Africa. This press release is a response to continued speculation about the death of the late Canon Rodney Hunter. ANGLICAN-INFORMATION has periodically covered this case, noting that accusations of ‘suspicious circumstances’ surrounding Canon Hunter’s death seem to have been generated by people and organisations associated with opposition to women priests and support of schismatic American Episcopal churches. The Province of Central Africa has been dragged into this heady mix and currently appears to be fighting a proxy war for the rest of the Anglican Communion, not least conservative factions in the United States. ******************************* Press Statement from the Rev’d Nicholas Henderson - distribution worldwide The late Canon Rodney Hunter, Nhkota-kota, Malawi Canon Rodney Hunter gave much of his working life in the service of Africa and to Malawi in particular. His long and faithful service was exemplary and in his passing we have all lost a good and faithful friend and servant of the Gospel. Sadly, his death last year has been accompanied by accusations of ‘suspicious circumstances’, which have led some people to claim that he was poisoned. This has been an ongoing source of speculation and innuendo. It should be pointed out that all the evidence available in the public domain indicates a tragic death from terminal illness; Canon Hunter had had a serious operation for cancer a few years ago. The so-called ‘poisons’ were in fact simple prescription drugs; a black substance on Canon Hunters lips supposedly indicating poison appears to be ‘coffee ground’ vomiting associated with long-term terminal cancer or intestinal bleeding, but most worrying of all, no more than the say-so of one person has resulted in a dangerous and probably unjust imprisonment of the kind that has now afflicted Canon Hunter’s loyal and faithful cook. The original accusation came, from the Rev’d Denis Kayamba, suspended former priest of All Saints Cathedral, and on his word alone, two people were arrested, accused of the murder of Canon Hunter. No evidence was produced other than Kayamba’s word and one of the accused, Leonard Mondoma, Hunter’s personal cook, has been in prison ever since. As it has been claimed that Leonard Mondama was one of my ‘supporters’ I would like to point out that as the principal suspect, Canon Hunter’s, hapless cook (who I have never met) is not and never has been one of my ‘supporters’. He was absolutely loyal and vocally supportive in Canon Hunter’s cause, as an employee of a man who was also his source of livelihood. Why he should wish to poison his much-loved employer stretches credulity to breaking point. There has subsequently been a second so-called ‘poisoning’ of a Michael Symon, also claimed by Denis Kayamba, which is based on no substantive evidence whatsoever and for which ‘poisoning’ no-one has been implicated. Given the description, available publicly, of Symon’s final symptoms it is also untrue to say that they were the same as Canon Hunter’s, they were quite unalike and point in Symon’s case to a heart attack – not poisoning. As conditions in Malawian prisons can be life-threatening it is Leonard Mondoma whose life is now in danger, languishing without friends, as he has now been in Nkhota-kota prison for almost a year. Consequently, any of those who persist in claiming ‘poisoning’ should themselves be careful that they are not instrumental in causing another death, this time of an innocent man who remains in prison simply because of their unsupported accusations. I believe that justice must always be done and any criminal activity, if accompanied by proper evidence, should always be appropriately brought to trial and sentence. However, it is scandalous that such accusations as have occurred concerning the late Canon Hunter’s death should be made without any evidence. I call therefore a full public release of the pathology report to be made available immediately, including full details of who conducted it in South Africa and what was found – generalised declarations supposedly in the original report of ‘probably poisoning’, are just not good enough as evidence. It is essential to have objective real evidence rather than vague subjective speculation. It has been many months since an autopsy was performed, and this is the only possible proof of anything. The full results are surely available by now and if not, why not? Therefore, before any precipitative moves towards court action, in order that everyone may understand what exactly is being claimed, let us have the precise ‘evidence’ so that no dreadful travesty of justice takes place. If proper evidence is produced then justice must be done, if not then very serious questions must be asked about those who have brought unfounded allegations and caused so much trouble. Poor Canon Hunter, who does not deserve to have had his good name so badly besmirched and used, may then rest in peace. Nicholas Henderson ANGLICAN-INFORMATION ANGLICAN-INFORMATION is a network acting as a free conduit for news and information related to the Anglican Diocese of Lake Malawi, and the Province of Central Africa. It is organised by an international team of those who know and love Africa and Malawi well. We reserve the right to reflect on the news as we receive it for the benefit of our worldwide audience. Some archive material of public domain releases can be found at: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||