ANGLICAN-INFORMATION Thursday 29th November 2007

Central African Anglican Province: Bishop Nolbert Kunonga spreading lies and misinformation - Bishop Trevor Mwamba replies:

The latest attempted character assassination lies and disinformation have again shown former Bishop Nolbert Kunonga of the Anglican Central African Province, Diocese of Harare, Zimbabwe at his most notorious.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION notes that Bishop Sebastian Bakare, the newly appointed caretaker bishop of Harare is meeting with some genuine popular success as he proceeds with his difficult task of regaining the diocese of Harare from the clutches of Nolbet Kunonga. Were it not for the support of the Mugabe regime, Kunonga would be out by now – so once again he has resorted to attacking the most significant of the Central African Provincial bishops, Bishop Trevor Mwamba of Botswana. The highly respected Mwamba is one of Africa’s most important Episcopal voices who could yet restore order to the Central African Province. Nolbert Kunonga in concentrating his fire on Mwamba reveals this clearly. Whatever fantastical world Kunonga lives in he is aware of the high opinion and authority that Bishop Mwamba commands. As a result he has concentrated his attacks on Mwamba.

Today, 29th November in the Botswana Mmegi newspaper Bishop Trevor Mwamba gives an interview clarifying the situation and correcting Kunonga’s latest accusations.

Headlined: ‘Ex-Zim bishop trashing Anglican Church of Botswana’ by staff reporter Bame Piet the article states:



’A former Zimbabwean Anglican bishop (Kunonga) is said to be wreaking havoc by spreading false information about the Church as well as Bishop Trevor Mwamba of the Diocese of Botswana. 


In a telephone interview yesterday, Bishop Mwamba stated that the bishop and other members, who were recently chased from the Church, were using the Zimbabwean media to tarnish his image and that of the Church after failing to do so through proper channels within the Church. He cited recent media reports that the Church (the Botswana clandestine meeting called by Kunonga in St Stephen’s Church, Francistown, Botswana, as reported by us on 12th November) had passed a vote of no confidence in him as a "sign of despair and frustration" by the former bishop. Some Zimbabwean papers reported last week that the Church's clergy and laity voted against him for holding a pro-homosexuality stance, which Mwamba described as "pure lies".

Bishop Mwamba added that he was aware of false information making rounds locally that his Range Rover* had been impounded by Customs and Excise officials but said he would not comment on lies. "I have no time to comment on things that are totally false and have no value to our Church," he said……………..
……………Bishop Mwamba accused the Zimbabwean media of being unethical in publishing false information about the Diocese of Botswana without input from the accused parties.’
* Central Africa is one of those places in the world (unlike London and New York) where it is actually essential to have a Range Rover for the considerable amount of dirt road travel that is necessary for the bishops.

ANGLICAN-INFORMATION has also been plied by false information from Nolbert Kunonga and his mouthpiece the Harare Herald in recent times. Zimababwe is now in such a state that it is sometimes difficult to get at the truth, except that it is obvious that the people are in terrible difficulties and dire circumstances, whilst the Provincial Anglican Church which should be a force for good and change is crippled by the legacy of internal divisions caused by the former Archbishop of Central Africa, Bernard Malango, who remains a good friend both of Nolbert Kunonga and the Mugabe regime.
Rumours continue to circulate in the Province as to Bernard Malango’s future plans after he finally steps down as Bishop of Upper Shire at the end of December – ‘will he join Kunonga or dissident American groups or enjoy a quite retirement in his new house in Lilongwe?’

Watch this space and pray, especially for Bishops Trevor Mwamba and Sebastian Bakare who are currently in the front line in an uphill struggle for justice and good order.

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