Chiangwa, Chinyemba And Nhira Barred From Leading AFM Church

The High Court has nullified the election of the Apostolic Faith Mission of Zimbabwe (AFM) praesidium led by Reverend Cossam Chiangwa and declared it unlawful.

High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi ordered fresh elections for the church’s top posts within 30 days after finding that the church’s National Apostolic Council acted outside its powers.

The dispute arose from a meeting of the National Apostolic Council on 8 February 2025 at Mufaro Conference Centre in Mushagashe, Masvingo, where members resolved to increase the constitutional age limit for candidates from 65 to 70 years, thereby allowing over-age contestants to participate in the election.

Justice Chitapi ruled that the council lacked the authority to amend Clause 14.2.1 of the AFM constitution, which stipulates that candidates for the church’s top offices must not be older than 65 years at the time of election.

Following that resolution, Chiangwa was elected president, while Reverend Amon Chinyemba, Nathan Nhira and Shepherd Sebata were elected deputy president, general secretary and national administrator, respectively.

The judgment was delivered in favour of church members Daniel Mhlanga and Dennis Maposa, who approached the court under Case Number HCH2288/26 seeking a declaratory order nullifying the election of the church leadership.

Mhlanga and Maposa argued that the constitutional amendment was unlawful and that the election of the four office bearers was therefore invalid. They also sought an order preventing the affected leaders from contesting in any fresh election and requested that all decisions made by the praesidium since its election be set aside.

In his ruling, Justice Chitapi ordered the AFM to conduct fresh elections for the positions of president, deputy president, general secretary and national administrator within 30 days.

The court further ordered that Chiangwa, Chinyemba and Nhira would not be eligible to participate in the fresh election, while only candidates who qualified to contest as of 3 May 2025 would be permitted to stand.

Justice Chitapi also nullified all major actions, decisions and resolutions made by the leadership after 3 May 2025, including the controversial provincial delimitation exercises.

To ensure continuity of administration, the court directed the church to elect an interim committee comprising five former overseers within 48 hours of the judgment. The committee’s mandate is restricted to administrative duties and preparations for the fresh election.

The judge further ordered Nhira to convene an Apostolic Council meeting to facilitate the election of the interim committee, which would cease to exist once a new leadership is elected or after 30 days, whichever comes first.

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