'Married adulterous' pastor fired

A MARRIED PASTOR, who led South Side Evangelical Church, was recently given a two-week notice to vacate the church-rented house after allegedly being involved in an adulterous relationship with a member of his flock. Pastor Edwin Masango was also relieved of his pastoral duties after the girl told the church leadership that she had a one-year old love child with the man of the cloth.

The illicit affair came to light when Masango refused to process a birth certificate for the child, prompting the girl to come all the way from Chegutu to spill the beans to the church leadership
On the other hand, Masango's parents had to travel from Karoi for "talks" with the Bishop so that he would be lenient to their son.

There was also another allegation that the pastor was in a relationship with a married member of the intercession team ' Mai Chibodo ' but this has NOT been proved beyond reasonable doubt. But it is his adulterous relationship with the church member that resulted in him being given two weeks notice to leave a church rented house in Park Town, Waterfalls and to surrender the car and laptop he was using. "Masango was refusing to process a birth certificate for his child resulting in the girl exposing the cheating man of the cloth.

"When the issue came to light, he admitted that he had sired the child with the girl but they were trying to conceal the matter with the help of a certain senior member of the church. "As we speak, the two have stopped attending church services and Masango begged the Bishop to allow him to look for alternative accommodation. "He was transferred from Chegutu after a letter was written by a man accusing him of wrecking his marriage.

"The church leadership is being lenient with him and now his sympathisers are hiring him to preach at one of our assemblies in Warren Park," claimed a disgruntled member of the flock. When H-Metro visited Masango in Park Town yesterday, he was about to leave to attend a church service in Warren Park. Kutenda Evangelical Warren Park Pastor Phiri was there to provide transport. "Please do not disturb him, we are late for a service because that does not promote the Kingdom of God," said Phiri.

Masango promised to get in touch with H-Metro after the church service, which he had not done by the time of going to print. "I will call you when I am ready to talk to you. I have your contact details with me," said Masango. However, Mai Chibodo, who was also fingered in Masango's scandal, confirmed that she has stopped attending church services and denied ever dating the pastor.

"I am happily married and I can't stoop so low to the extent of cheating with a pastor," fumed Mai Chibodo. She added: "What I only know is that Masango was relieved of his duties after a lady from Chegutu came here claiming that she has a child with him. Church members suspected me after I was given transport by Masango to Beitbridge. His wife was also with us. "I take it as cheap church politics meant to tarnish my image."

The church's top leadership headed by Bishop Magwojo CONFIRMED that Masango was under investigation. "It is true that Masango is being accused of cheating with a married woman and also another lady. We can't furnish you with finer details since the matter is still being investigated. "We will let you know once thorough investigations have been completed," said Magwojo. Some of Masango's sympathisers were said to be interceding for him so that he remains at South Side assembly. "Anyone can fall and it is not only Masango who has done this. We are praying for him and I assure you that he will not leave the assembly," said one of the members.