Maverick Bishop Nolbert Kunonga gets up to mischief in the diocese of Botswana .

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION Reports that Nolbert Kunonga the self-proclaimed bishop of the ‘newly independent' diocese of Harare, Zimbabawe (as reported in earlier releases) has been on a visit to Francistown, Botswana, described as the ‘capital of the north' and Botswana's second largest urban centre.

Mmegi (Mmegi means "the reporter" in the Setswana language and its strapline is "News we need to know") the only daily independent newspaper in Botswana and accessible online at: www. mmegi.bw

In an unattributed article, dated Monday 12 th November, under a headline – ‘Botswana Diocese Against Homosexuality' - the Mmegi newspaper reports: ???

'In a development that threatens to further tear apart the Anglican Church's Province of Central Africa, the church's clergy and laity in Botswana diocese have passed a vote of no confidence in their bishop over his pro-homosexuality stance and have consulted Harare diocese's anti-homosexual Bishop Nolbert Kunonga to help them map the way forward. ?

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION says that to describe Bishop Trevor Mwamba as being pro-homosexuality is ridiculous. He has openly endorsed the Windsor Report, Lambeth resolution 1.10 and he recently spoke on behalf of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa , all of which place him firmly in a traditional orthodox mould.

During a meeting with Bishop Kunonga at St Stephen's parish church just outside Francistown , the Botswana diocese clergy and laity apparently ‘passed a vote of no confidence in the pro-homosexual Bishop Trevor Mwamba' and said that they had ‘twice written to the province expressing their no confidence vote.'

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION says: Whilst it is clear that Bishop Kunonga has been hawking himself about in Botwana, it is not actually clear how many of the ‘clergy and laity' were at the meeting when they passed this resolution.

Nevertheless the Mmegi article goes on, ‘While expressing their support for Bishop Kunonga's stance in pulling out Harare over the homosexuality issue, the clergy and laity chronicled how in June they first wrote to the province voicing their concerns about their Bishop's stance.

"After getting no reply, we wrote again in September and we still have not received any response. We have passed a vote of no confidence in Bishop Mwamba because his values and ours are at variance. We don't support homosexuality," said a church member who identified herself only as Monimang Berea.'

It also appears that some dissident members of the Botswana clergy and laity were present when the Harare diocese recently held a ‘special' but unconstitutionally conducted synod when it was ‘agreed' to leave the province of Central Africa and to petition to join the province of Kenya.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION has asked the Archbishop of Kenya the Most Rev'd Benjamin Nzimbi to comment on the claims by Kunonga that he has Archbishop Nzimbi's support but only a deafening silence has ensued.

Those present at the meeting in Francistown are reported as saying "Bishop Kunonga explained to us how his diocese did it and we asked him to clarify some issues that had been distorted. We support him."

Meanwhile back in Zimbabawe, Kunonga's machinations continue as he has managed to persuade five of the eight members of the Harare diocesan Board of Trustees to pass a vote of no confidence in the vice-chair, Philip Mutasa whom they accuse of misrepresenting them.

According to the Mmegi newspaper ‘In a letter to the churchwardens and clergy, the members said: "We, the trustees of the diocese of Harare , would like all ecclesiastical divisions to know that we consider what Mutasa did. That is bringing the Bishop of Harare (Kunonga) to court over the issue of the withdrawal of the diocese from the Province of Central Africa and the issue of the property of the diocese to be completely out of line and unbecoming.” The letter dated October 20 was signed by Messrs Majokwere, A. S. Tome, O. Gatawa, B. P. Gundu and A. Nyazika.'

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION says: In fact Philip Mutasa was one of those brave enough to stand up to Kunonga. He has recently stated: "Kunonga withdrew from the Province of Central Africa and he can no longer claim to be part of the Anglican Church or Communion. He is now something else." - This is of course, quite correct.

Mmegi newspaper goes on: ‘The Harare diocesan secretary, the Rev'd Barnabas Machingauta (a Kunonga appointee), confirmed this saying “the whole diocese was behind the decision to pull out.”' He is further quoted in the Zimbabwe Sunday Mail newspaper as saying “If retired Bishop Sebastian Bakare who was last week appointed the new Bishop of Harare by the Province of Central Africa showed up in Harare, he would be resisted by both clergy and laity.”'

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION reports that this anarchy on the part of bishop Kunonga is beginning to look like desperation. It is reported that he is writing around to bishops and clergy with few takers. He has, also contacted conservation dissident American factions who now rest on the horns of a dilemma – wanting to support Kunonga for his noisy remarks about homosexuality but reluctant to become tangled in a web of Zimbabwean politics.

Kunonga remains a loyal supporter of President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and as such is a dangerous man who will stop at nothing to achieve his ends. Caution is advised on the part of those who unfortunately have to deal with him.

Francistown , Botwana had its origins as a gold rush town, perhaps this history has encouraged bishop Kunonga to go prospecting there.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION states that all of this chaos can be traced back to poor leadership on the part of outgoing Archbishop Bernard Malango (a personal friend of Kunonga) who attending anniversary celebrations for St Thomas's, Lilongwe on Saturday 10 th November, was openly chastised by a government minister for allowing the diocese of Lake Malawi to be without its bishop for the past two years.

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