The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A dispute over sharing of a loot from proceeds obtained from a church charity project recently degenerated into a fist-fight between congregants of United Methodist Church’s Hilltop parish in Mutare.
A video in which a male church member is seen pummelling his female counterpart has since gone viral on social media.
Although the church is understood to have made efforts to play down the incident in order to protect its image, investigations conducted by The Manica Post revealed that the fight was between a Mubvuwi (an ordained male member of the church) and a Mai Ruwadzano (an ordained female member of the church).
It is understood that Mr Talkmore Nhunduru and an unidentified woman failed to agree over the sharing of goods donated by well-wishers for the church’s charity project.
The argument later degenerated into a fist-fight in the church.
Efforts to get a comment from the District Superintendent, Reverend Tendai Makono were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered, while the church’s Assistant Bishop Masimba Allan Gurupira referred this reporter to the former.
Mr Nhunduru was also not readily available for a comment.
However, some members of the church who confided in this newspaper on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal said the argument was sparked by disagreements on how to share proceeds from a church charity project named “Isheanesu”.
“They were fighting over donations for the Isheanesu Project. The two had a disagreement on how to share the proceeds and that led to the fist-fight. It is sad because these are the elders in the church and we all look up to them,” said a source within the church.
The Manica Post understands that the Isheanesu Charity Project mainly receives donations from people who are based outside the country for onwards transmisioon to the less priviledged.
However, insiders claim that some of the donated goods are being diverting from deserving beneficiaries for personal use.
Some senior church officials, (names supplied) also reportedly have the audacity to send their children to the Diaspora when donors ask for orphans and disadvantaged children.
“The Isheanesu Project has been abused for a long time. We have had incidences when some senior church officials sent their children abroad when donors asked for orphans and disadvantaged children.
“Some goods donated have also been diverted, with some of it being sold in Chiadzwa. The leaders are aware of this,” said another source in the church.
