'Adultery' pastor's funeral drama

TEMPERS flared and some mourners were expelled from the funeral wake of the late Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) pastor, Reverend Menard Zvenyika, who was buried in Gutu on Saturday after a suicide note blaming his enemies for the adultery claims that hounded him was read out.

Rev Zvenyika committed suicide last week, leaving behind a $10,000 adultery lawsuit filed in the Masvingo civil court by a fellow congregate who accused him of engaging in an extra-marital affair with his wife.

The pastor was found dead in a lorry belonging to Pamushana High School headmaster, Johnson Madhuku that was parked within the school yard in Bikita last Thursday afternoon.

Rev Zvenyika was a minister at the church-run school.

Angry relatives reportedly charged at the late pastor's workmates, mostly teachers, for "causing" his death and it has since emerged that the pastor took his life after a church disciplinary hearing in the adultery matter suspended him for three years.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna could neither confirm nor deny the incident when reached for comment.

A source said trouble started after Rev Zvenyika's suicide note, in which he blamed perceived enemies for his troubles, was read out.

"The reverend left a suicide note in which teachers from Pamushana High School including Madhuku were named as culprits.

"During a funeral wake, relatives asked those whose names were mentioned in the suicide note to leave while threatening to assault them.

"They nearly caused a scene as there was shoving until some elders intervened to quell the near volatile situation," said a mourner.

A relative added: "The headmaster and some teachers stand accused of having caused Rev Zvenyika's death through supplying the media with information about the latter's private life leading to the church summoning him to a disciplinary hearing."

Efforts to contact Madhuku were fruitless as his mobile phone remained on voicemail throughout the day.

However, a close source said the respected headmaster, who is also Confederation of School Sports Association of Southern Africa (Cossasa) president, was away at his farm and did not attend Rev Zvenyika's funeral further stoking speculation over the alleged rift.

"Madhuku was at his farm when others attended Zvenyika's funeral. He was nowhere near the funeral wake in Gutu," said the source.

Meanwhile, a fellow congregate suggested there is more than meets the eye in Rev Zvenyika's suicide case.

"The late pastor was believed to be the custodian of the church constitution and was believed to be a conservative as opposed to his counterparts who were believed to be liberals. Last year he formed part of the team that was tasked with resolving infighting within a Harare congregation and it was during this time that allegations of adultery surfaced," he said.

"It is said the late Zvenyika was against the liberal camp and reflected this at a meeting to address the problems bedevilling a Harare congregation. Since then the fights shifted to his personal life and it also sucked in Pamushana headmaster, Madhuku," the congregate alleged.