Guta RaMwari faction wins court case

THE breakaway faction of the fragmented Guta Ra Mwari church, led by its International Council chairman Evangelist Joseph Bongo Malinga which opened a new base in Bulawayo's Tshabalala suburb last year has won a High Court order permanently barring other factions from interfering and disturbing church proceedings and services.

The order granted last week by High Court Judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha cements the church's split.

"Respondents and/or their agents or assignees to and are hereby permanently barred from unlawfully impeding/interfering in any manner or fashion with the applicant's peaceful and undisturbed church services at Tshabalala," read the court order.

The applicant Malinga registered the new splinter faction (CA1/2014) making three different organisations with the name Guta Ra Mwari. One is Guta Ra Mwari Zvimiso, the other Guta Ra Mwari Religion and the new one Guta Ra Mwari.

Formed in 1954 by Mai Chaza who became the first hostess, the church now has Guta Ra Mwari Religion based in Old Lobengula whose leaders are Joseph Bakuru Tayali, Joel Tawedzera, Stephen Sibanda, Francis Mwene, Calvin Chauke and Sam Mkhithika.

The other faction Guta Ra Mwari Zvimiso has its own leaders and uses the same premises in Old Lobengula, where members have at one point not only insulted each other using unprintable words during a service, but assaulted each other.

Malinga, representing the latest splinter Guta Ra Mwari, cited Guta Ra Mwari Religion, Tayali, Tawedzera, Sibanda, Mwene, Chauke and Mkhithika as respondents.

"The applicant and respondents have mutually exclusive policies, principles and beliefs. Due to differences, the applicant has severed ties with Guta Ra Mwari. We have identified what would be a permanent solution to whatever problems the parties face as we have registered as a separate entity and desire to commence worship services at a different site in Tshabalala," he said.

Added Malinga who is responsible for the administration of the church in Southern Africa and United Kingdom: "Guta Ra Mwari would continue in Lobengula."

He said they sought legal intervention because of the rivalry background of the factions and they feared that the other groups would disrupt their services.

Prior to the ruling it is said violence reigned supreme early this year at the Tshabalala church, as members of the other factions bulldozed and disturbed the new church's first conference.

Ironically, the older factions joined hands against the new splinter group although in August last year they had to seek the intervention of the courts as they were fighting.

The court then granted a peace order in favour of Guta Ra Mwari Religion led by Tayali, Tawedzera, Sibanda, Mwene and Chauke against Guta Ra Mwari Zvimiso. Another faction leader Joel Mabhena was later to be arrested for contempt of court in relation to the peace order, but was acquitted.

Tayali's father, Taxwell Tayali was appointed second host after the death of Mai Chaza and with the help of his wife Laizah Tayali, registered the church as Guta Ra Mwari in 1974. Following Tayali and his wife's death in 2003, the church has been rocked by serious infighting and divisions.