Zimbabwean Christian leaders released

By Reuben Kachisi
29 January 2007

The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance leadership were finally released on Monday afternoon, having been arrested during a church meeting in Kadoma last Friday. One of the arrested Pastor Berejina sent a text message confirming their release. The message read: "We are out in Jesus' name." But we were not able to get through to anyone in Kadoma to get the details of their release.

The church leaders who were detained are Pastors; Ray Motsi, Ancelom Magaya (visually impaired), Gerald Mubaira, Zvizai Chiponda, Watson Mugabe, Lawrence Berejina, Mr Jonah Gokova (Director of Ecumenical Support Service) and Mr Pius Wakatama (journalist for the ZCA journal).

Some were being held at Rimuka while others were at Kadoma Central.

The Alliance had gone to Kadoma to launch a chapter of the organisation as part of a countrywide drive to establish Christian leaders' networks. It's reported the turnout was high with many people having to stand while others were outside the church. On Friday just before his arrest Pastor Berejina told SW Radio Africa that between 700 and thousand people had gathered for the meeting.

The group said the aim of establishing these networks is to create local chapters of the alliance as platforms to equip Christian leaders with church based advocacy and peace building.

It's reported the church leaders spent their time mingling with other inmates at Rimuka and Kadoma Central Police Stations, leading praise and worship in detention. One of the Pastors jokingly asked to be moved to another holding cell because he had preached to everyone in his cell and all had become Christians.