Church faces heat over legal spending

The Assemblies of God Back To God (AOG-BTG) is facing mounting scrutiny from its membership amid concerns over governance practices, financial management and the use of church resources to fund legal battles.

Congregants have raised alarm over delays in completing the Mashava Auditorium project, a flagship initiative that has reportedly stalled as funds are diverted toward litigation, particularly disputes involving the Assemblies of God Spiritual Movement (AoG-SM), led by Phillip Zinyama.

In a recent ruling, High Court of Zimbabwe judge Justice Justice Dembure imposed punitive costs on the Nathan Sethlako-led AOG-BTG, stressing the need "to deter church leaders from irresponsibly dragging the church into litigation."

The initial matter, filed under case number HCH 5359/23, resulted in the award of costs exceeding US$8 000. A subsequent application involving the same property has since been filed under HCH 6427/25, raising further questions about the church's legal approach.

Church members say leadership decisions around litigation appear to be concentrated among a few individuals, particularly chairperson Nathan Sethlako and secretary Silas Mhazo, despite the existence of a nine-member national executive. This has sparked debate over whether adequate collective oversight is being exercised.

Following the court ruling, church representatives initially proposed settling the costs through monthly instalments, citing financial constraints. However, the full amount was later paid in a lump sum.

Documents indicate that the payment was made from an account linked to the Mashava Project — a fundraising initiative supported by congregants — a move likely to raise further concern among members given the project's delays and financial challenges.

Additional questions have emerged over a property reportedly acquired by the church in 2024 for about US$150 000 in a leafy suburb of Harare. Publicly available information shows the church using an address in Strathaven that is also associated with a law firm involved in its legal matters, prompting speculation about whether the property is formally held as a church asset.

When contacted for comment, Sethlako declined to address the concerns in detail, referring inquiries back to members raising the issues.

AOG-BTG, whose membership is largely rural, relies heavily on contributions from congregants with limited financial means. Reports indicate that full-time pastors receive stipends of around US$100 per month, raising questions about financial priorities within the organisation.

Concerns have also been raised about the condition of existing infrastructure, including reports that part of the Mkoba Convention Centre collapsed in 2024.

With internal elections approaching, calls are growing for the national executive to strengthen oversight and improve transparency, as members push for accountability in the management of church resources.