AFM Church pastors bribe overseers to be transferred to 'profitable' assemblies

A storm is brewing in the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) Church where squabbles have taken centre stage and reports that pastors are bribing overseers to facilitate their transfers to 'profitable' assemblies.

This development has seen demonstrations at the Dzivarasekwa assembly where parishioners questioned Harare West overseer Cosum Chiangwa's intention to impose a new pastor whom they alleged was related to his wife. They also alleged that Chiangwa's wife grew up in Dzivarasekwa and nepotism was coming into play.

Squabbles also rocked Mbare assembly under the jurisdiction of Overseer Chiremba and disgruntled AFM church members registered their anger through letters which our news crew had sight of. They querried the transfer of the Mbare pastor.

Chiangwa dismissed the nepotism claims but acknowledged the disturbances that have rocked the Apostolic church.

"I received a report about the grievances raised by Dzivarasekwa assembly and we have since resolved that the other pastor's family will not leave the assembly. The pastor is the one who was misleading people but the reason we were making changes was in consideration of the other pastor's family size. It's a matter of accommodation and nothing to do with nepotism. It's true Pastor Bakasa is related to my wife but he left our church joining Heartfelt Ministries so how can I assign him to any of our assemblies? After the report, we retained Pastor Mukundi to Dzivarasekwa Assembly and we have removed Pastor Nyathi from Goodhope Assembly," said Chiangwa.

Hmetro is in possession of a 10-minute long video of disgruntled parishioners at Dzivarasekwa assembly demonstrating against Chiangwa accusing him of trying to impose a pastor related to his wife. Dzivarasekwa assembly is led by Pastor Kudakwashe Mukundi and Mbare assembly is under the care of Pastor Johannes Nehanda.

Dzivarasekwa assembly members were chanting "Church yaramba zvemadhisinyongoro...." as they were demanding to meet Chiangwa in person.

"Chiangwa wants to impose pastors to us and impose his wife's relative who wants to return to AFM after leaving the church to join Heartfelt Ministries led by Apostle Wutabwashe. They want to reassign junior pastors to assemblies that do not look after their pastors well. Chiangwa never transferred anyone to his Marborough assembly because it is lucrative and if you look at the trend, it is in his province where defectors usually emerge and form their own ministries. Within two years, about six pastors were evicted or withdrawn from their assemblies and some left AFM to start their ministries," fumed one of the members.

Another disgruntled church member said: "On New Year's Day we blocked a lorry sent by Chiangwa to evict our pastor and today we told Gotora (an official from Chiangwa's office) to leave us alone. We demanded to meet Chiangwa in person but he has sent a proxy. Chiangwa stood before the church and preached against mushrooming churches but he is the catalyst."

Meanwhile, Kwekwe Assembly Pastor Matunhiri is reportedly stuck in Harare and is accommodated at a lodge in Msasa while his property is stashed in the bedroom at Mbare Assembly. He is poised to take over from Pastor Nehanda.

Pastor Nehanda described Overseer Chinyemba as an entrepreneur who was cashing in at Mbare where he has assigned his relative to chair the church committee. In his six-page report to AFM president, Nehanda questioned the 'unconstitutional manner' in which he was transferred from Mbare assembly.

Contacted for comment, Overseer Chinyemba CONFIRMED the transfer of Pastor Nehanda reiterating that his assembly would be installed with another pastor today and Nehanda will appear under disciplinary hearing.

"we do not disclose church matters to the Press but I want to assure you that you are chasing the wind by publishing that story," said Chinyemba.

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