Ex-Zim bishop trashing Anglican Church of Botswana

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Thursday November 29, 2007 00:00

 

In a telephone interview yesterday, Bishop Mwamba stated that the bishop and other members, who were recently chased from the church, were using the Zimbabwean media to tarnish his image and that of the church after failing to do so through proper channels within the church. He cited recent media reports that the church had passed a vote of no confidence in him as a 'sign of despair and frustration' by the former bishop. Some Zimbabwean papers reported last week that the church's clergy and laity voted against him for holding a pro-homosexuality stance, which Mwamba described as 'pure lies'.

Bishop Mwamba added that he was aware of false information making rounds locally that his Range Rover had been impounded by Customs and Excise officials but said he would not comment on lies. 'I have no time to comment on things that are totally false and have no value to our church,' he said. Bishop Mwamba was confident that it is the Zimbabwean former bishop who is spreading false information about the church activities and reiterated that he had no time to give any answers for such lies. 'You can go ahead and print whatever your sources have told you, I am a busy man and have no time to comment about lies,' he said.

Bishop Mwamba accused the Zimbabwean media of being unethical in publishing false information about the Diocese of Botswana without input from the accused parties. The diocese of Botswana is part of the Province of Central Africa.

Commissioner of Customs and Excise Keneilwe Robert Morris denied any knowledge of any impounded vehicle belonging to the Anglican Church or Bishop Mwamba. 'Even if we had such a case the law does not allow us to share information on our clients with the media. It is confidential in terms of the law,' Morris said. Meanwhile, an officer who preferred not to be named said that there would be an auction tomorrow of motor vehicles, including a Range Rover, at the Customs and Excise compound but declined to give further information. Mmegi visited the Customs and Excise compound where a Range Rover bearing B777AHP numbers was parked among other cars, which security guards said were going to be auctioned some time this week.