20091222
allafrica

Harare — PARISHIONERS of the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa conducted services outside the St Mary's Anglican Cathedral on Sunday after being locked out by the independent Anglican Province of Zimbabwe.

The situation was the same at other churches in Harare as the congregations of the Central African Province, which is the one in full communion with the worldwide Anglican communion, were locked out by the breakaway Zimbabwe province despite a court order for the two to share premises.

A fight ensued on Sunday as youths led by a Rev Makove of the Zimbabwe province allegedly threw stones and empty bottles at members of the congregation from the Central African province who were singing just outside the church's entrance along Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.

Rev Makove who was shouting insults, threatened to beat up The Herald photographer accusing him of being a member of the Gandiya-led faction.

"We will not allow you into the premises. We will not allow homosexuals into our church and you can go anywhere. You have been given money so that you can come here and disturb our worshipping," he said.

A member of the Central African Province, Reverend Phineas Fundira, said they were only trying to gain entry into the church premises in accordance with a High Court ruling by Judge President Rita Makarau that they share the premises.

According to the ruling, the two groups were told to share the premises with the Zimba-bwean province taking the morning slot, while the Central African province would take the afternoon session.

"This is the second time running that we have been barred from using the premises in direct violation of the High Court ruling.

"We are here waiting to get our chance to get into the church, but the other group has locked the doors from inside.

"We have been trying to enter the premises, but they are refusing to share the property hence we have decided to use this open space. As you can see, they are forcing us from the greens and are throwing missiles at us," he said.

Another parishioner from St Peter's Mabelreign Anglican Church, Mr Obvious Sherewa, said they had to conduct their service by the roadside after police denied them entry into the premises.

He said despite producing the High Court order compelling the police not to interfere with the parishioners, policemen manning the church said they were still to get communication to that effect.