FROM THE MAGISTRATES COURTS: I have no knowledge
MBABANE - Melika Jericho Church in Zion’s Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati says he cannot say anything about violence unless someone schools him about it.
Vilakati was emphasising a point after Khumbuzile Hlatjwako had accused him of sending a team of people to attack her.
He mentioned that he lived a Christian way of life at a very young age, after he was appointed his late father Melika’s successor. The bishop told the court that he did not even know how to resort to violence because it was something he was never schooled about.
“All I know is that as Christians we have to look at the cross and live in harmony with all people,” he said. The bishop was grateful of Acting Mbabane Principal Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati’s words.
This was after the judicial officer had told both parties that the court could not decide on what they should do as a church. Magistrate Vilakati advised that the church structures should be used in dealing with church matters.
Result
“It is better to part ways if you fail to reach common ground. There are many churches which have been formed as a result of unresolved challenges,” the judicial officer told the parties.
This follows that Vilakati’s name was last Thursday cleared after one of his congregants, Khumbuzile, made startling allegations against him.
Vilakati’s name was cleared at the Mbabane Magistrates Court, where he was called to answer to the allegations levelled against him.
He was accused by Khumbuzile of assigning some members of the church to kill her along with Ezulwini Inner Council Indvuna Ndlavela Mavimbela and Enyonyane Zone Leader Boy Sihlongonyane.
Khumbuzile told the court that Vilakati had been threatening her since 2017, allegedly through sending James Mkhonta to attack her.
She alleged that the bishop also assigned Mkhonta to expel her from her church situated at Enyonyane in Ezulwini.
It should be noted that Mkhonta used to worship together in the same church with Khumbuzile. As a result, Khumbuzile facilitated the ordainment of Mkhonta as Umfundisi after the death of her husband Bongani Hlatjwako. Ordainment of church leaders is done by the bishop after the approval of names by the elders of every church.
The late Bongani was the first person to establish a Jericho Church with mandate from the headquarters in the area.
Division
However, Khumbuzile now wants Mkhonta removed from his position, so that her son could take over, something that has caused division among the congregants, leading to two factions in the church. One faction is led by Mkhonta while the other one is led by Khumbuzile.
Khumbuzile further told the court that on May 29, 2021, the bishop came with a team of pastors to deliberate on the dispute at the area’s royal kraal.
As Khumbuzile narrated her story, Acting Mbabane Principal Magistrate Sifiso, asked her if she personally heard the bishop assigning anyone to attack her. Khumbuzile responded to the negative.
She also alleged that on June 6, 2022, the bishop sent a team of pastors led by Bongani Kunene from Corner Plaza Jericho Church in Zion to kill her along with Mavimbela and Sihlongonyane.
“Mkhonta was long ordered to vacate the church by the inner council lead by Mavimbela. The royal kraal banned both parties from using the church structure but Mkhonta defied the ban while I worshipped at the mountain. Recently, I was attacked by Thulani and Mbongiseni Tsabedze while passing by the church from the mountain. Umshumayeli Gadlela openly told me that they had been sent by the bishop to deal with me,” she alleged.
Utterance
She told the court that she couldn’t believe Gadlela’s story because she trusted her bishop. However, Khumbuzile told the court she believed Gadlela’s story after the bishop made utterance in one of the media houses.
“Ngicela anginike kuthula wa Vilakati, angisakhoni ngisho kuhamba ebusuku ngenca yekwesabela imphilo yami,” Khumbuzile submitted.
However, in response to the allegation, the bishop said it was shocking when a person was called to answer on something they did not know. As a result, the man of God said he did not even know how to respond to unfounded allegations levelled against him.
“I thought Make Hlatjwako will furnish the court with any piece of evidence linking me to what she has just told court. I do not even remember when I last saw her because I live at Gege and she lives in Ezulwini. In the absence of any evidence linking me to these allegations, I do not know what to say,” said the bishop.
He stated that in his 40 years and 20 years in leadership, it was his first time to face a congregant in court.
“Kungivisa buhlungu, futsi ngiva ngiyatesaba kutsi ku 40 years lengimuphilile emhlabeni ngaphindze ngahola libandla iminyaka lengu 20, ngiyacala kubhekana nemzalwane enkantolo.
“Futsi nje ngitsi angikubeke kucace kutsi bomake ngibahlonipha kakhulu ngisho kwengca bafundisi kulenkonzo. Angeke nangalinye lilanga