Chaos erupted in the Methodist Revival Church in Rusape, Zimbabwe, on April 20, 2026, when two rival bishops attempted to hold separate services simultaneously in the same church building, forcing police to intervene and halt the proceedings.
The confrontation pitted supporters of church founder Bishop Phillip Mupindu against a breakaway faction led by Bishop Philemon Munyaradzi Chamburuka. The rift, which dates back several years, intensified after Mupindu fell ill and later returned to leadership.
Police officers from the Rusape Urban police station were called to prevent the situation from escalating into violence. Sergeant Major Ngangu addressed the congregation, urging calm and abruptly ending the service. "I think we have worshipped enough, and we cannot continue like this. We have spoken to the leaders from both sides and agreed that this cannot continue, because it might end in chaos," he said.
Ngangu added, "We know there was a split, and legal processes are under way, but a church should not operate this way. We expect peace and co-existence in the church, not rivalry and competition as you are doing." He instructed congregants to disperse while discussions with church leadership continued.
Legal Battles and Asset Disputes
The conflict has already been the subject of legal proceedings. A High Court ruling in October 2024 reportedly affirmed Mupindu's authority and ordered the Chamburuka faction to relinquish control of church assets, including the Rusape building. The court also barred them from using the church's name and symbols.
Despite the ruling, the breakaway group is accused of continuing to occupy properties and operate under the MRC identity. An attempt to challenge the ruling in November 2024 was later struck off the court roll.
Efforts to Enforce Judgment
Itai Zvenyika Munyoro, coordinator of the MRC Board of Trustees, said efforts were under way to enforce the judgment. "Following a favourable High Court ruling affirming Bishop Mupindu's authority and legitimacy, MRC has moved to enforce the judgment through the courts," Munyoro said.
He added, "This includes engaging the Sheriff's office to execute asset recovery and initiating contempt of court proceedings against individuals refusing to comply." Munyoro warned against continued disruption of church activities and raised concerns about alleged bias in law enforcement. "We have all the documents for the police to enforce the law and protect us from these people, but they are clearly biased," he stated.
Members aligned with the Chamburuka faction declined to comment extensively. One member, Never Mukanda, acknowledged the division but said he could not speak freely due to internal protocols.
