Reverend Cossam Chiangwa who leads a faction in the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) has told his followers to remain calm saying his side was still in control of the church.
Pindula News Friday reported that the Supreme Court Friday upheld a High Court ruling on the AFM leadership crisis case noting that Reverend Amon Madawo who is backed by the immediate past president Aspher Madziyire was the legitimate leader of the church.
Chiangwa had appealed the High Court ruling but the higher court dismissed the application with costs.
_Let your hearts not be troubled, believe in God and trust your leadership._
_Do not panic, as usual, your leadership is in full control, do not move out of church buildings, nor surrender any assets prematurely._
_It is however prudent and encouraged that those in church buildings and mission house should urgently start looking for alternative places of worship and accommodation._
_We are not abandoning the ship, stay put, we moving on, do not be shaken, we on the move, united we stand as we gladly move forward._
_We are re-constituting ourselves. We still part of AFM International and hence we can still use the logo again until AFM International excludes us from its affiliate membership, then we will design an appropriate logo and move on to establish our own International forum._
In his appeal, Chiangwa was backed by Amon Chinyemba, Nathan Nhira, Shepherd Sebata, Donard Ndoni, Aurthur Nhambuko and M Mashumba.
Madawo was cited as the respondent in the court papers together with Munyaradzi Shumba, Madziyire, Tawanda Nyambirai, Clever Mupakaidzwa, Briton Tembo and Christopher Chemhuru.
The Supreme Court ruled that Chiyangwa’s group must reverse everything it did, return everything they took and must stop presenting themselves as the leadership of the church.
They were stopped from accessing or using any assets or property of any kind belonging to the church.
The group was also ordered to relinquish to the church, all and any property belonging to the church that is in possession or under control of the respondents.
- AFM Saga: Chiangwa Ordered To Return All Church Properties
- High Court Rules In Favour Of Madziyire, Madawo Side In AFM Church Dispute
- Chiyangwa Led AFM Faction Reject High Court Ruling, Approach Supreme Court
- AFM Saga: Rev Madawo Speaks Following Court Victory
More: Pindula News; NewZimbabwe