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ANGLICAN-INFORMATION
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ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reports that the Zimbabwean government mouthpiece newspaper, the Harare Herald online (www. herald. co. zw) reports today, 31st October that: Harare Diocese Clergy Support Kunonga ‘The Anglican Church Harare Diocese clergy yesterday added their voice to the growing chorus in support of Bishop Nolbert Kunonga as head of the diocese, saying the withdrawal from the Province of Central Africa was not the bishop's issue, but a resolution of the synod.’ ANGLICAN-INFORMATION notes that this synod was reported by the UK Church Times last Friday 26.10.07 when Bishop Kunonga announced that ‘rules no longer applied and the constitution did not need to be heeded’. The Harare Herald goes on: ‘In a statement yesterday, the clergy dismissed as a "circus" the announcement made last week by the Dean of the Province of Central Africa that Retired Bishop Sebastian Bakare has replaced Bishop Kunonga. "The appointments we hear are being imposed on us. We take them as a circus and we will at no time be part of it. The Diocese of Harare has a bishop, rightfully elected and not retired, who together with the diocese, has moved out of the Province of Central Africa. This is the bishop we pray for in our eucharistic services; this is the bishop we know and will work with. His name is Right Rev Dr Nolbert Kunonga. " ANGLICAN-INFORMATION says: Most of the clergy of the Diocese of Harare are actually living exile having been forced out by Bishop Kunonga and replaced by Zanu PF government supported ones, ordained without training, by Bishop Kunonga. Of the remaining laity their voice is largely silenced by fear and intimidation, as Kunonga is a close ally of President Robert Mugabe. Last week, in a sensible and courageous move the Dean of Province of Central Africa and Bishop of Northern Zambia, the Right Reverend Albert Chama, appointed the Rt Revd Dr Sebastian Bakare, former Bishop of Manicaland to take over Harare Diocese. It is not clear yet whether this brief includes oversight of the Diocese of Manicaland under its present bishop Rt Revd Elson Jakazi who has also joined Kunonga in declaring that his diocese has seceded from the Province of Central Africa. The other three dioceses in Zimbabawe did not and have disassociated themselves from Kunonga and Jakazi. The Harare Herald continues with a reference to Bishop Kunonga’s accusing the Province of Central Africa of supporting the homosexual agenda. The article goes on supposedly quoting the clergy of Harare: "We remain mesmerised as to who they are claiming to represent if the whole synod is against them. It is a myth to us why they want to force us to go back to a scenario where we will be brushing shoulders with perpetrators of homosexuality. ……………….The clergy (of Harare diocese) said they view the actions of Rev Chama and his allies as nothing but a vendetta by opportunists who had been waiting for an excuse to pounce on Bishop Kunonga. But the clergy would not be part to this. They also affirmed that Harare Diocese was joining another province that maintains the same discipline over homosexuals as Harare and formalities for that were being finalised.’ ANGLICAN-INFORMATION observes that this reference to another Province could be the Province of Kenya under Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi who Kunonga claims has written supporting him. Archbishop Nzimbi has been a strong critic of the American Episcopal Church but whether he would want an ally for the cause in the person of Bishop Kunonga is debatable. ANGLICAN-INFORMATION calls on Archbishop Nzimbi to clarify his position. In soliciting support for his future Bishop Kunonga has also been writing to priests in the diocese of Botswana encouraging them to leave the oversight of Bishop Trevor Mwamba (the ousted Dean of the Central African Province) and join him. Botswana Bishop Trevor Mwamba was (also) castigated by Dr. Kunonga in the letter as a “power-mad usurper, a weed, and homosexual intent on leading his diocese to damnation.”’ Finally, it should be noted that the rumour mill is running in Malawi, and it is said that Kunonga may also solicit the former Archbishop of the Central African Province Bernard Malango, to join him after his final retirement as Diocesan bishop of Upper Shire in December. They are good friends, with a close working relationship and Malango notoriosly ‘pardoned’ Kungona from serious charges against him, including incitment to murder, last year. Together with Bishop Jakazi of Manicaland they could form a House of Bishops for a rival Province, it is said. In fact, Bishop Bernard Malango has not yet commented on his intentions after retirement. Bernard Malango’s official diocesan farewell takes place on Saturday, 3rd November in the Malosa area of his diocese of Upper Shire at which Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika will be a principal guest. ANGLICAN-INFORMATION notes that Bishop Sebastian Bakare, in taking on his new task in Zimbabawe will have to deal with a very difficult and potentially dangerous situation. Fortunately, he is reputed to be a good leader with a firm resolve. His background includes being one-time Ecumenical Senior Chaplain: University of Zimbabwe Province of Central Africa (1997/99) and co-chair of the All Africa Anglican – Lutheran Commission (AAALC) Latterly, he was until 2006, Bishop of Manicaland and has said of Kunonga that he was unprincipled” for seeking “greater power in lording it over people”. He has long been an outspoken critic of President Robert Mugabe. On his retirement in 2006, Dr Bakare described the Church in Zimbabwe as an accomplice of evil. “There has been a rampant abuse of power, but the Church has remained silent as though all was normal.” In a recent letter to the UK Church Times, he describes Bishop Kunonga’s adoption of the fight against homosexuality as political opportunism. Bishop Kunonga’s statements, “while politically correct, are nothing but a gimmick for an otherwise ambitious plan which is meant to give him and those bishops who seem to feel insecure and have no principles greater power in lording it over the people. How unethical!” ANGLICAN-INFORMATION is having a busy time at the moment but will continue to keep readers up to date in this rapidly moving saga of ecclesiastical intrigue and skullduggery. Where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is in all this, is difficult to imagine but we thank God for faithful priests and people throughout the Province, who continue their work despite everything. ……………….END……………. 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: |
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