Zimbabwe: maverick Anglican priest loses clergyman's licence

The Anglican Province of Central Africa, (CPCA) which represents Anglican Churches from Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe, has revoked Bishop Nolbert Kunonga's clergyman's licence and those of priests aligned to him. The decision was reached at an extraordinary Synod in Zambia on 20 December to discuss Kunonga's decision to pull Harare diocese from the CPCA, because he said some bishops in the province had encouraged homosexuality. "Dr Kunonga, having severed his allegiance and cast aside his canonical obedience to be bound by the laws of the province, which includes the diocese of Harare, has ceased to be a member of the diocese; and is no longer the bishop of the diocese; and his licence as a clergyman in the Anglican Communion is automatically revoked," read a statement signed by the 14 bishops. The bishops said Kunonga was no longer authorised or permitted to have any authority or control whatsoever over the diocese, nor to represent it in any way, nor to use the funds and assets of the diocese. The bishops said priests who are aligned to Kunonga were having their licences revoked on grounds of misconduct. "The faction of priests known to support Dr Kunonga in his action, in whichever diocese(s) they may be, has chosen to step outside the province and the diocese. Their licences have been revoked as they are no longer members of the diocese and the province." The bishops who passed the resolution were the Bishop of Northern Zambia and Dean of the Province of Central Africa, Rt Rev Albert Chama, Bishop of Lusaka, Rt David Njovu, Bishop of Eastern Zambia, William Muchombo, Bishop of Central Zambia, Derek Kamukwamba and Bishop of Luapala, Robert Mumbi. The others were Bishop of central Zimbabwe, Ishmael Mukuwanda, Bishop of Masvingo, Godfrey Tawonezvi, Bishop of Matabeleland, Wilson Sitshebo, Bishop of Harare Sebastian Bakare, Bishop of Southern Malawi, James Tengatenga, Bishop of Northern Malawi, Christopher Boyle, Bishop of Upper Shire, Bernard Malango, Vicar-General Diocese of Lake Malawi.and Bishop of Botswana, Trevor Mwamba. It was also agreed at the meeting that Kunonga's personal resignation and withdrawal from the province had been accepted and Bakare was appointed as interim bishop of the diocese of Harare and that all priests were obliged to respect him as Kunonga,s successor. The CPCA wants all the priests in the Harare Diocese to write to Bakare confirming their allegiance to him.