The Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court has ruled that nineteen Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe pastors who belong to the faction led by rival president Cossam Chiangwa should vacate the church’s properties they have been occupying.
The eviction follows an application filed before the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court by AFM faction led by Reverend Amon Madawo, with Louis Donga and 18 others cited as respondents.
In her ruling, Bulawayo provincial magistrate Adelaide Mbeure noted:
In respect of the interdict it is sought that each respondent is interdicted from using or accessing the AFM Assembly they were using or any AFM in Zimbabwe church premises wherever situate without applicant’s consent or valid court order.
It is noted in this matter that the dispute which has been brought to court emanates from the factions that have now bedevilled AFM in Zimbabwe as there are now two factions.
The faction which is in control of the church is the one which has brought the present application while all the respondents for which an interdict is sought belong to the Chiangwa faction.
Donga and the other 18 pastors had their contracts of employment terminated in October 2018 when the church split.
They had continued to use the church premises that they presided over as well as houses belonging to the church even after the termination of their contracts.