The Church Times reported that the Anglican Bishop of Harare, the Rt Revd Chad Gandiya speaking at a press conference after the murder last Friday of Jessica Mandeya, an 89-year-old lay leader at St Lambert’s, in Mrewa suggested that her murder is part of what he has described as “disturbing new developments” in the continuing struggle of the Anglican Church in Harare against the excommunicated former bishop, Nolbert Kunonga.
Mrs Mandeya is alleged to have received death threats for her continued loyalty to the diocese of Harare, which is part of the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA). “We are all very shocked by this turn of events,” Bishop Gandiya said in a pastoral letter.“The faithful in Mrewa are equally shocked by both her untimely death and comments/threats that they will face the same fate if they continue to belong to the Diocese of Harare CPCA. Police are investigating the murder and we hope that the culprit(s) will be apprehended and that justice will prevail.”
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