Bishop Julius Makoni joins IMF

ANGLICAN Diocese of Manicaland bishop, Bishop Julius Makoni, whose resignation from the helm of the church was recently accepted by the Episcopal Bench, will be taking up a new job at Washington-based Bretton Woods (IMF) institutions.

Although Bishop Makoni tried to downplay his resignation in an interview at his Mutare offices on Wednesday, insisting that he was going on a three-month sabbatical, correspondence in possession of this newspaper shows that the founding NMB chief executive officer turned clergyman was given up to March 1 to wind up his operations in the Diocese of Manicaland.

The Zambia-based Archbishop of the Church of the Province of Central Africa, Archbishop Albert Chama, confirmed Bishop Makoni's resignation in a telephone interview from his base on Tuesday afternoon.

"Yes, indeed Bishop Makoni resigned as the bishop of the Diocese of Manicaland. He never gave us reasons for his resignation. His letter of resignation did not give us details. We will start the process of getting a new bishop for the diocese. Anyway, thank you very much for inquiry," said the Most Reverend Albert Chama.

Bishop Chama has since written to Bishop Makoni notifying of the Episcopal Bench's decision regarding his resignation.

In a letter dated January 29, 2015, which this publication has in its possession, it reads: "We are in receipt of your letter of 19th November 2015 (sic). The Episcopal Synod met in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 29 January 2015 and considered your letter of resignation. The Episcopal Bench unanimously accepted your resignation with regret.

"However, the Episcopal Synod decided that your last working day shall be the 1st March 2015 and the Province as per our Canons shall proceed with the process of electing your successor soon after. We wish you God's blessings
in all your future undertakings."

Bishop Makoni, who was elected the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Manicaland on July 24, 2009 before being consecrated on November 22, 2009, said he would be going on a sabbatical.

"I will be going on a sabbatical and the diocese already knows this. I will be based in Washington working for one of the Bretton Wood institutions. I will be working in Washington most of the time and this is time consuming.

"I was never forced to resign and I know where the rumour is coming from. I will decide whether to come back or not after my sabbatical," he said.

When asked about reflections on his tenure as the bishop of the Diocese of Manicaland where he was criticised in some quarters of failing to stamp his authority as well as being an absent bishop, he said: "My tenure has been an excellent one. I helped to stabilise the once turmoil-filled diocese and I feel it is now time to let somebody take over.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with fantastic people in this diocese. I think it is one of the best dioceses in the Anglican community. I was humbled by the way they received me," he said.

Bishop Makoni took over from Bishop Elson Jakazi, whom the church had dethroned saying he had voluntarily stepped down from the throne following a fall-out on the recognition of gay rights in the church.

Bishop Jakazi had a protracted battle with the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa which spilled into the court of law.

After losing the battle to remain at the helm of the church, Bishop Jakazi and other disgruntled members of the church went to form a new church Evangelical Anglican Church International.

Following Bishop Makoni's resignation, the Vicar-General, Father Nyazika, will hold fort until a new bishop is elected into office.