The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) has said it is unperturbed by accusations that it is protecting a teacher at Waddilove High School in Marondera who is accused of indecent assault.
An anonymously written letter, signed by “A Concerned Parent,” alleged that the school is shielding English Literature teacher Patrick Nyahwo.
According to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200031025/were-unfazed-by-social-media-rumours-mcz">NewsDay</a>, Nyahwo (55) was acquitted of the charges earlier this year by Marondera Magistrate Sharon Rakafa, who referred to the case as “work politics” in her ruling.
Nyahwo had been suspended for three months while awaiting the resolution of the court proceedings. Ruled the court:
<blockquote>
There is a possibility that the allegations could be a result of work politics. The doubt that exists works in the accused’s favour.
In casu, thus the court has decided to err on the caution and exonerate the accused on the charges. In the foregoing, the accused is found not guilty and acquitted.
</blockquote>
During the court proceedings, several students who testified said that they were “coached” by a teacher to provide statements against Nyahwo.
Nyahwo also faced a government disciplinary committee, which subsequently cleared him of the same allegations.
MCZ secretary for education Daniel Muzenda said the contents of the letter circulating on social media were falsehoods. Said Muzenda:
<blockquote>
We are unfazed by that, we are not giving in to the demands of people who spread falsehoods. There is normalcy at our school and it is business as usual.
Our teacher, Nyahwo, was accused of indecent assault and it is public knowledge that he was acquitted by the courts.
Government also conducted its own investigations and he was cleared. This is the position. Whoever is behind the message circulating has his or her own motive, we are not moved by that.
</blockquote>
The anonymous letter’s author also accused the MCZ-run institution of transferring teachers perceived to be opposed to Nyahwo. Said Muzenda:
<blockquote>
As for the issue of transfers, it is false to say that they emanate from this issue. It is a routine thing within our organisations.
Teachers or school heads can be transferred following necessary procedures. For example, we have a school head who was transferred five times, rotating our schools. It’s not new at all.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe is denying accusations that it is protecting a teacher accused of indecent assault at Waddilove High School. The teacher, Patrick Nyahwo, was acquitted of the charges by the court. The church says the accusations are false and that Nyahwo has been cleared by both the court and a government disciplinary committee. They also deny accusations of transferring teachers opposed to Nyahwo. The church is not worried about social media rumors and says everything is normal at the school.

Methodist Church Denies Covering For Waddilove High School Teacher

A Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) lay leader was on Thursday humiliated by his lover who turned up at his wedding ceremony at Waddilove High School in Marondera.
MCZ circuit leader, Gabriel Matsiwe, and Lian Muzanenhamo’s wedding was interrupted by the church leader’s secret lover, only identified as Nyari.
Nyari rose to object to the two being joined in holy matrimony by a religious marriage officer.
Matsiwe’s bride is a self-styled prophetess, popularly known as Madzimai Nunurai in Dzivaresekwa and Dema.
As per tradition during wedding ceremonies, the marriage officer asked if any person could show just cause why the two may not be joined together.
Nyarai stood up and told the marriage officer in front of the wedding guests that Matsiwe and her were lovers, and he had promised to pay lobola for her on Christmas Day. She said:
<blockquote>
Gabriel had given a date to pay lobola and never told me that he had found another lover that he is wedding today.
He first gave my parents a date in August this year and later moved it to Christmas Day.
Some of my relatives had already travelled for the lobola ceremony from outside the country, only for him to start giving flimsy excuses at the last minute.
Akaudza vabereki vangu kuti aita emergency arikuda kunorova guva saka haachakwanisa kuuya kuzoroora. (He informed my parents that he had an emergency and needed to perform some rituals at a relative’s grave and therefore couldn’t come to pay lobola.
We were then shocked to learn about his wedding today.
</blockquote>
The marriage officer then invited Nyari, Matsiwe and his parents, as well as his bride’s parents into the school’s boardroom to discuss the issue.
Nyari eventually emerged from the meeting in the boardroom, about an hour later, and the wedding ceremony resumed. | <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/cheating-groom-humiliated/">H-Metro</a>

Methodist Church Elder's Wedding Interrupted By "Secret Lover"

Church leaders have condemned the desecration of Zinyengere Cemetery in the dormitory town of Epworth by sand poachers.
Reports indicate that several graves at the site have been exhumed, with the human remains thrown into the nearby Jacha stream by the sand poachers.
Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) superintendent for Epworth Circuit, Reverend Josias Mudenda, said:
<blockquote>
I have gone to the graveyard many times to bury fellow church members, only to see what is happening there. It is an eyesore.
The Bible even says graveyards are sacred places. In the Bible, Nehemiah said he could not rest while the place of his fathers’ graves lies waste and the gates are consumed by fire, showing the respect he had for the dead.
I believe that graves should be walled and gated. The local authority needs to work with the community to protect this site.
</blockquote>
The sand poachers are said to be led by a man only known as Christopher.
Meanwhile, Isaac Chirimba, a senior resident of Epworth, criticised the sand poachers for disrespecting the dead. He said:
<blockquote>
These youths are very disrespectful. What they are doing is taboo. Invading a graveyard to earn a few dollars is unacceptable in our society.
Last month, we went to the cemetery to bury a relative and discovered that some of the graves were missing, much to our surprise.
We were shocked when we found a skull and bones scattered all over the place.
</blockquote>
Another senior citizen, Gogo Hilda Sithole, said the sand poachers have access to the graveyard after vandalising a perimeter wall that had been erected at the cemetery by locals. She said:
<blockquote>
Epworth is my home. I have been here with my family since 1960. We used to bury children in this place you now see as plain ground. There is nothing to show that there were graves there.
This is all the work of sand poachers, who will stop at nothing to get what they want.
</blockquote>
Epworth Local Board secretary Wilton Mhanda conceded that sand poachers were a menace but said the issue has been blown out of proportion. He said:
<blockquote>
Yes, there are sand poachers, but the situation is exaggerated. We usually conduct raids and culprits are brought to book.
</blockquote>
ZRP community liaison officer for Epworth, Sergeant Maliana Davis, said they were not aware of any cemetery invasion by sand poachers. She said:
<blockquote>
As Epworth ZRP, we are committed to duty. The last time council engaged us was, when some people were constructing houses in the cemetery. We worked together well on the matter.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/no-resting-in-peace-%e2%96%a0-sand-poachers-invade-graveyard-%e2%96%a0-greed-dwarfs-logic">The Sunday Mail</a>

Methodist Church Pastor Condemns "Desecration" Of Graveyard In Epworth

The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) has been cleared on allegations of misappropriating funds by the community at Matjinge High School in Plumtree.
The Matjinge community wanted the office of the principal to be abolished at the MCZ-run school as they accused him of running down the school.
It wanted the school to be handed over to the local council and School Development Committee (SDC).
The parents even petitioned the government, alleging that school authorities were misappropriating school funds among other issues.
Last year the parents had a meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Methodist church Bulawayo District Bishop over the issues.
MCZ denied abusing funds and it later emerged that the person who was stealing the money from the school was a community member who was employed as an accounts clerk.
CITE’s <a href="https://cite.org.zw/author/senzeni/">Senzeni Ncube</a> reported a source as saying that the School Development Committee (SDC) unearthed the fraud by the employee. Said the source:
<blockquote>
After being elected into the SDC as a treasurer, we then discovered the fraud that was done by the clerk. She would issue the correct receipts to the parent for example if someone paid R360 she would go on to write R60 on the duplicate receipt.
</blockquote>
The matter was reported to the police and the clerk was dismissed from the school.
Methodist Church Education Secretary, Bishop Wilfred Dimingu told CITE that the situation at the school was back to normal. He said:
<blockquote>
It’s an account clerk who resides in the community, she stayed in the community and was engaged by the primary school to work as an account clerk, it was the issue of embezzlement of funds by the employee.
As a church, we are happy that we managed to resolve misunderstandings that were there, everything is now in order, the parents understood how things are done, the ministry explained to them and everything is in order now.
</blockquote>

Methodist Church Cleared In Missing School Funds Saga

The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) is set to resume in-person church services this weekend, albeit only for congregants who are fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus, as directed by the government.
In a notice to members, MCZ Marlborough Society leadership said in-person services will commence on Sunday 5 September 2021, and all COVID-19 control measures will be fully observed.
The leaders also advised unvaccinated congregants that online services will continue as usual. The notice read:
<blockquote>
Following the recent announcement by Government and the statement from Connexional, Circuit leadership conducted a survey among members and the results show that we can hold services and comply with government COVID-19 restrictions.
Services at Marlborough Society will therefore commence on Sunday 5 September at 10.00 am. All COVID-19 protocols will be observed and as directed by Govt, only fully vaccinated people ( that is those who have received 2 doses) will attend.
Please ensure that you carry and show the ushers your vaccination certificate to avoid contravening the law.
We look forward to once again meet, share the Word and fellowship together as Marlborough Church. Please be reminded that being fully vaccinated is not to say you are free from contracting coronavirus!
Therefore, please remember always to sanitize, proper wearing of your mask, washing of your hands and continue practising physical and social distance!
Above all keep encouraging someone to be vaccinated. 
Online Services will also continue.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Methodist Church Resumes In-person Services

Leaders of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) are holding consultations on the way forward regarding the holding of physical services at the church’s societies dotted across the country.
This comes after the government gave churches the green light to resume physical services with only congregants fully vaccinated against COVID-19 allowed to attend under strict adherence to WHO prescribed coronavirus containment measures.
In a notice to congregants on Thursday evening, MCZ General Secretary Reverend Martin Mujinga said the church will on Friday issue an announcement on how in-person services will be conducted. He said:
<blockquote>
Following the Government’s announcement of the partial opening of Churches, there are questions with regard to the position of the Church.
We are doing some consultations and the statement will be issued by end of the day tomorrow Friday 13 August 2021.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, police on Thursday implored churches not to let unvaccinated worshippers attend in-person services and said they will be out in full force to monitor and arrest violators of the new regulation.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement:
<blockquote>
Churches are implored to strictly comply with the vaccination directive for congregants as stipulated by Cabinet on 11 August 2021.
The police will assist health officials to ensure compliance and arrest anyone defying the safety protocols.
Police will also take action against those who might try to take advantage of the directive and produce fake vaccination certificates.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Methodist Church To Announce Way Forward On In-person Services

<blockquote>25 March 2020
To: Connexional Lay President
District Bishops
District Lay Presidents
Superintendents
Lentern greetings
COVID-19 – Sunday services and other gatherings
Following a series of consultations and after prayerful reflection regarding the COVID -19 pandemic and the threat it poses, I write to advise the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe community that we are suspending worship services and other gatherings including District Synods with immediate effect.
We will continue to assess the situation and will advise accordingly. Church buildings will remain open for individuals who may need to come for private prayer and reflection.
Ministers and Stewards are directed to supervise any such visits and ensure compliance.
The Mission Department will provide more guidance regarding live streaming of services and sharing of devotions through social media.
As emphasised in my last communication, all ministers are encouraged to exercise their pastoral and leadership role more creatively.
Fellow Methodists, the COVID-19 turbulence is causing a lot of fear, panic and confusion.
May we remain conscious of the promptings of the Holy Spirit and be attentive to what God is saying to us in the midst of all this.
During such a time when the Church has retreated from sanctuaries to homes, we are called upon to engage in deep prayer and fasting as God says “Be still and know that I am God… The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:10-11).
Rev. Dr S. Zwana 
Presiding Bishop
Methodist Church in Zimbabwe</blockquote>

Methodist Church In Zimbabwe Suspends Sunday Services {Full Text}

Former Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) pastor and founder of Assemblies of Pentecostal Methodists (APM), Reverend T.T, Chivaviro took to social media to respond to allegations that he was caught in an uncompromising position with a female church member.
We publish his response in full below:
<blockquote>Tinovengerweiko??? At a time we are busy with funeral arrangements for our father some heartless people get busy on mischief for the why???
Do people realise the impact of just posting something that’s not there over someone? This mischief-maker is oblivious of the fact that I have not been to South Africa this year, somebody jokes with things like this!
Its shocking this comes the same day with another separate issue of WhatsApp conversations with obviously a downloaded pic of a faceless somebody said to me, how??? Pada video yacho ichazobuda tigoinawo, aiwana munogona kutanga nekutumira my wife, be free to!
Why are people so heartless and ruthless? Anyway, we don’t stop ministering the gospel because of such, NEVER! And rudo rwemumba medu chairwo rwapfuura nzizi nemakomo akawanda, we cant be affected so much by such, tichiri tese imiwee.
I have nothing more to say on the matter, I’m sure the law is taking its course and the culprits shall answer, I pray they repent too!</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1909379755860666&amp;id=242096215922370&amp;_rdr" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apostle Rev T T Chivaviro</a></h4>

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