Pulpit war explodes at Methodist Church

Tensions flared at the Methodist Revival Church (MRC) in Rusape last Sunday after two rival factions attempted to hold separate worship services in the same building, forcing police to intervene and halt proceedings.

The confrontation involved a group loyal to MRC founder Phillip Mupindu and a breakaway faction led by Philemon Munyaradzi Chamburuka, whose leadership has been at the centre of a long-running dispute within the church.

The divisions date back several years to the period when Bishop Mupindu suffered a stroke. Although he has since recovered and resumed duties, the internal rift has deepened, culminating in ongoing legal battles over control of church assets and authority.

Last Sunday's standoff saw both factions gathering inside the same Rusape church building, each determined to conduct its own service. The situation quickly escalated, prompting officers from Zimbabwe Republic Police's Rusape Urban unit to step in before violence could erupt.

"We cannot allow this to continue because it might end in chaos," said Sergeant Major Ngangu after engaging leaders from both sides. "A church should not operate this way."

The dispute has already been addressed in the courts. In an October 23, 2024 ruling, High Court judge Rodgers Foroma Manyangadze ordered the Chamburuka-led faction to surrender all church assets, including the Rusape premises, to the Mupindu-led group.

The ruling also barred the breakaway faction from using the MRC name, symbols and insignia, and nullified Chamburuka's claim to the bishopric.

Despite this, the faction is accused of continuing to occupy church properties and conduct services under the MRC banner. An attempt to overturn the judgment through a rescission application in November 2024 was later struck off the roll.

MRC Board of Trustees coordinator Itai Zvenyika Munyoro said the church is pursuing legal enforcement of the ruling, including engaging the Sheriff's office to recover assets and initiating contempt of court proceedings.

"These steps are necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect the church's identity," Munyoro said, alleging resistance and lack of enforcement support on the ground.

He added that despite presenting court documents to police, officers demanded additional authorisation letters, which he said has complicated efforts to reclaim control of the church.

Meanwhile, members aligned to the Chamburuka faction continued to participate in the disrupted service, which was led in the absence of Chamburuka by local church leaders.

The incident highlights not only an administrative and legal dispute, but a deepening spiritual and institutional crisis within the church, as congregants find themselves divided between competing leadership structures.

Police have since halted services at the site pending further engagement with church leadership, as authorities seek to prevent further clashes.