SQUABBLES have rocked the Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe (PAZ), pitting presiding Bishop Trevor Manhanga against pastors who believe he is politicising the church. In particular, members were not happy with his growing tendency to invite senior Zanu PF politicians to minister at the church.

"It looks like he wants to do exactly what his friend (Bishop Nolbert) Kunonga is doing with the Anglican Church," said a pastor at the church.

"Most of the things that are happening at the church at the moment have nothing to do with ministering the gospel, but it is just for the political emancipation of the presiding Bishop and a few individuals.

"People are leaving the fellowship in numbers because of this. Honestly how can he invite people like Gono and Professor Moyo to come and preach to pastors?"

Disgruntled members last week said Manhanga had gone to the extent of getting rid of some pastors he felt were against his politicisation of the church.

Elections are due in 2011.

Among these is an activist and leader of the Rugare Pentecostal Assembly, Pastor Lawrence Berejena.

Also on Manhanga's alleged blacklist is former Bishop Emmanuel Bawa, former national executive member Dickson Changara, and Leo Mupanduki, the founder of some 28 churches affiliated to the PAZ.

Lennie Meril, the founder of Kwekwe Christian Assembly and Victory Tabernacle in Mutare, where Manhanga is currently pastoring, was also frustrated until he returned home to Canada.

"Manhanga wants all pastors to toe his pro-Zanu PF line, but knows pretty well this will not work," said another member of Upper Room Ministries, one of the key members of the PAZ.

"Right now they have not renewed Berejena's credentials because of his association with the MDC-T, and for voicing loudly against corrupt tendencies within the leadership."

It is understood that when he sensed looming defeat in the elections, Manhanga created an electoral board comprising handpicked lieutenants to oversee the whole process.

And to show members how connected he was, Manhanga "invited secular leaders to preach to leaders of the church".

Moyo confirmed that last year he made a presentation at a PAZ meeting, but said "there was definitely no preaching".

"Some time last year, there was something arranged as a leadership seminar for PAZ leaders to interact with people in different sectors of society," said Moyo who formally rejoined Zanu PF at the end of last year.

"I was invited alongside Professor Tagwira, Dr Gono and Dr Chikumba to address various topics on leadership. I gave a lecture on issues of governance.

Manhanga said it was "incorrect" that he was elbowing out pastors and elders perceived to be against him.

"That is a lot of nonsense. There is no pastor that has been chucked out," Manhanga said.

"Let the people making those accusations come out in the open. I have got nothing to hide.

"As for my continued stay, I was put into office by the fellowship, and my term expires in 2011."

He also disputed the claims that Moyo, Gono, Tagwira and Chikumba had preached at the church.

"There is no politician coming to preach, we only invited them for a leadership seminar last year," Manhanga said.

"There are many known Christian leaders in business and politics he should have invited.

"Why didn't he invite people like (Health Minister) Dr Henry Madzorera, who is a member of the church?

"There is not much inspiration to draw from people like Gono and Moyo, and even Chikumba is struggling at Air Zimbabwe," argued the member.

Manhanga argued that they had invited Madzorera, but he could not make it as he was out of the country. Madzorera was not immediately available for comment.

By The Standard