The High Court has cleared Reverend Johannes Nehanda, a senior Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) official, to testify in a contentious property dispute linked to the church’s prolonged leadership feud. The case centers on a 2018 split within the AFM, resulting in rival factions vying for control of the church’s assets and leadership.
The dispute has spilled into the courts, with competing leaders registering different entities claiming to represent the original AFM. The AFM is currently suing Abraham Masamba, Amon Nyika Chinyemba, and Odar Housing Development Consortium over property control, with Nehanda appearing as the church’s representative .
Professor Lovemore Madhuku, representing two AFM pastors, objected to Nehanda’s testimony, arguing that as a key office bearer, he should have testified first. However, Justice Christopher Dube-Banda dismissed the objection, ruling that Nehanda’s presence in court during other witnesses’ testimonies doesn’t affect the admissibility of his evidence.
This ruling is the latest development in the AFM’s protracted legal battles over control of lucrative assets. The Supreme Court had previously settled a related leadership dispute, declaring Amon Madawo the legitimate AFM leader in Zimbabwe .
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