Police were forced to halt a church service in Rusape, Zimbabwe, after rival factions clashed over control of the pulpit, exposing deep divisions within the Methodist Revival Church.
The confrontation occurred on April 20, 2026, when two opposing groups attempted to conduct separate services inside the same church building, prompting intervention from officers at Rusape Urban police station to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.
The dispute pits supporters of church founder Bishop Phillip Mupindu against a breakaway faction led by Bishop Philemon Munyaradzi Chamburuka. The rift dates back several years following Mupindu’s illness, after which tensions intensified despite his return to leadership.
As the standoff unfolded, Sergeant Major Ngangu addressed the congregation, urging calm and bringing the service to an abrupt end. “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.
“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 added, instructing congregants to disperse while discussions with church leadership continued.
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, while barring them from using the church’s name and symbols.
Despite this, 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.
Responding to the ongoing dispute, MRC Board of Trustees coordinator Itai Zvenyika Munyoro 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,” he said.
“This includes engaging the Sheriff’s office to execute asset recovery and initiating contempt of court proceedings against individuals refusing to comply,” he added, warning against continued disruption of church activities.
Munyoro also raised concerns about alleged bias in law enforcement, stating: “We have all the documents for the police to enforce the law and protect us from these people, but they are clearly biased.”
Members aligned with the Chamburuka faction declined to comment extensively. One member, Never Mukanda, acknowledged the division but said he could not speak freely on the matter due to internal protocols.