Tempers flare at Rev Tshuma burial
TEMPERS flared yesterday at the funeral of Apostolic Faith Mission in Africa (AFMA) leader Reverend Tony Tshuma in Lobengula Extension, Bulawayo as some members of a rival section led by Reverend Clement Nyathi were barred from viewing the body of the late church leader.
Mr Javan Ncube, a city businessman was forcibly removed from the queue as he was about to view the body together with other members of his rival group. The police were called in and removed Mr Ncube before the funeral continued.
The said Rev Tshuma-led faction questioned why rivals were coming for the funeral yet they had been fighting him in recent years. The two groups have been embroiled in a legal battle over the control of church property.
Wife of Rev Tshuma’s predecessor, the late Philemon Sibanda was also barred from attending the funeral as she was accused of belonging to the Nyathi camp.
Away from the controversy, more than 15 buses and hundreds of cars accompanied the late Reverend to his final resting place at the Lady Stanley Cemetery. The funeral service started at 9am at the giant Lobengula Extension Church and by 5pm mourners were begining to witness the filling up of the grave. Mr Max Tshuma, a family representative said people who were fighting his father over church leadership were fighting a great man.
“They were after him, old as he was, but my father was not after fighting. All he wanted was to spread the word of God but his rivals tried to stop him from doing that. Our father taught us real love as he stayed with our mother for 65 years, and we will take a leaf from that,” he said.
He said the church his father left behind should go on and desist from clashes. Member of Parliament for Pelandaba-Mpopoma constituency Cde Joe Tshuma who is a son to the late Rev Tshuma also spoke of the fights going on in the church. He said some congregants were misled into fighting with his father.
Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo who was also part of the mourners said she was aware of the clashes within the church.
“I am aware of the whirlwind that has been sweeping through in the church over the years and it reminded me of other problems that we had long ago. If there were good things that occurred they would be ones that kill the momentum and we wondered why there were such people in our midst but we realised that is the way of life, some people will always be against us,” said Cde Moyo.
Rev Tshuma died at Mater Dei Hospital on 31 May after succumbing to heart failure. He was 91. He was born in Gwanda District on 25 December 1925. In 2008 he was appointed leader of the church after the death of its then leader, Rev Philemon Sibanda. He is survived by his wife Selinah, seven children and several great grandchildren.