Njabulo Ncube
Retired Anglican Bishop Sebastian Bakare, appointed to head the fractious Diocese of Harare after the ouster of Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, says he has come to the capital to stay, dismissing reports that he turned down the job after being offered a “paltry” monthly salary of US$1 500. Bakare, who was based in Mutare until his appointment by the Dean of the Church of the Province of Central Africa, said through his spokesman Chris Tapera yesterday he would stay on as the caretaker head of the Anglican Diocese of Harare until a substantive leader was elected next year. Sources within the church earlier in the week claimed that a Zambian clergyman, a Bishop L. Mwenda, had been appointed to replace Bakare, a development denied by Tapera. “The recent developments within the Anglican Diocese of Harare have created some unnecessary divisions among the Christians in our Church, with the former Bishop of the Diocese Nolbert Kunonga and his misinformed supporters making grossly misleading statements about their status in the Diocese of Harare,” he said.
Bakare and the Anglican community, said the spokesman, understood the rules and procedures of how to conduct business in the Church and would not engage in acts of violence to defend their position “but will seek God’s guidance during these difficult times.” Anglicans in Harare, he said, dissociate themselves from members of the clergy still allied to Kunonga. Tapera stressed that Kunonga, who could not be reached for comment this week, officially left the Anglican Diocese of Harare in his personal capacity, and did not pull out with the diocese. “The fact is that Bishop Bakare was legitimately appointed by the Dean of the Church of the Province of Central Africa on 7 November 2007 as the caretaker head of the Anglican Diocese of Harare until a new one is properly elected next year. Since his appointment, he has been conducting church business, supported by various priests, church wardens and laity”.
Kunonga, who maintains he is still the legitimate head of the church in Harare, was fired last month after he withdrew the diocese of Harare from the Province of Central Africa, made up of Anglican churches in Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe, citing alleged rampant homosexuality in the church. These allegations have been dismissed by the Diocese of Harare. Kunonga, who is known to be close to the ruling Zanu PF and to be a beneficiary of its largesse, has hinted that he wanted to affiliate the Harare diocese to the Anglican Province of Kenya. On Saturday, Bakare presided over a meeting held at Harare Sports Club to discuss Church business. The meeting, attended by the Chancellor of the Church of the Province of Central Africa, Eric Matinenga, and his deputy and Chancellor of the Diocese of Harare, Rob Stumbles, resolved to support Bakare as the legitimate head of the Anglican Church Diocese of Harare under the Church of the Province of Central Africa.
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