HARARE - Anglicans from across the world are thronging into Zimbabwe for tomorrow’s cleansing ceremony of church properties “defiled” by ex-communicated bishop Nolbert Kunonga.

Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) archbishop Albert Chama is expected to lead the ceremony.

For five years, Anglicans have been worshipping in the wilderness but a Supreme Court ruling last month gave control of church properties back to the CPCA and threw out Kunonga and his supporters who often used force to cling to the properties.

Following the Supreme Court ruling, Anglicans from across the globe are travelling to join their Zimbabwean colleagues to “clean” their churches, schools and hospitals after five years of legal and physical battles with Kunonga’s supporters, an official said.

Despite having returned to the churches, Anglican priests have refrained from using the altars until after tomorrow’s ceremony. The church says Kunonga turned the properties into brothels, canteens and classrooms.

Clifford Dzawo, secretary for the CPCA Harare diocese, said the ceremony would be turned into a special thanksgiving service after the Supreme Court victory.

“The archbishop is coming for the thanksgiving service. We are thanking God for keeping us while we were in exile and other churches that gave us areas to worship.

“We would also like to thank the media for covering us during trying times,” said Dzawo.

Dzawo said Chama, who hails from Zambia, has confirmed he is coming along with other Anglicans from across the globe.

“Tomorrow the archbishop will rededicate the Cathedral while on Monday, senior clergymen will be dispatched to carry out cleansing ceremonies since some of the churches were no longer being used for worshiping but for wedding receptions while other churches were turned into bedrooms,” said Dzawo.

Judge president George Chiweshe on Monday put an end to the Anglican saga when he ruled that
Kunonga could not appeal a judgment made by the Supreme Court.

The CPCA is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and includes 15 dioceses in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia.