Congregants block ‘adulterous’ pastor from church

News
Angry Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) congregants on Sunday traded their Bibles for placards when they demonstrated at their Mucheke branch baying for the ouster of reverend Caiphas Madhumbu on allegations of adultery.

MASVINGO — Angry Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) congregants on Sunday traded their Bibles for placards when they demonstrated at their Mucheke branch baying for the ouster of reverend Caiphas Madhumbu on allegations of adultery.

TATENDA CHITAGU OWN CORRESPONDENT

The worshippers stopped the Sunday sermon from taking place and instead sang protest songs.

They also besieged Madhumbu’s house and prevented him from leaving.

The worshippers have demanded that RCZ defrock Madhumbu alleging that his wife caught him red-handed pants down with his “small house”.

“We need action. We do not want people who tarnish the image of the church. He should be fired because he does not behave like a man of the cloth. What if he goes to our women also?” one demonstrator shouted in the church on Sunday.

Another worshipper said they were demonstrating to the church leadership that they will not tolerate Madhumbu’s alleged wayward behaviour as they feared he would also prey on their wives.

“When the matter came to light, he went for a disciplinary hearing, but it is sad that some people who sit in the committee also face similar allegations, so they treated him with kid’s gloves. But we the members are the church, not leaders, and we no longer want him,” another congregant said.

”If the church leaders want him, then they should keep him at the church headquarters and not here to prey on our women.”

The siege at Madhumbu’s house went on for hours and the church members only dispersed after a church official addressed them.

The disgruntled church members threatened to violently eject Madhumbu from the church house today if the church leadership does not take any action against him.

Efforts to get a comment from the shaken Madhumbu were fruitless as he refused to entertain anyone saying he feared for his life.

RCZ moderator reverend Rangarirai Rutoro professed ignorance on the matter when contacted for comment.

“Where did you hear that from? I am not aware of it, but I will investigate as you know I am not based in town, but at Morgenster Mission,” Rutoro said.