By Christopher Makaza
Leader of Jabula New Life Ministries, Bishop Tudor Bismark, reportedly snubbed the memorial service of the late Glen View South legislator, Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java fearing that the MDC leadership could turn the event into a political rally.
The service was held over the weekend at her late father Morgan Tsvangirai’s Strathaven home in Avondale.
Sources told the Harare Post that the MDC had initially suggested the City Sports Centre or the Harare International Conference Centre as memorial service venue, which Vimbai`s husband Batsirai Java turned down also fearing that the event would turn into an MDC rally.
After the charismatic preacher failed to show up, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa took over as guest, consuming most of his time praising himself as the biblical Joshua capable of taking Zimbabwe from the current situation into the promised land of Canaan.
Addressing the gathering, Chamisa said he was the spiritual leader anointed by God for political purposes and that solutions to current problems are spiritual, hence they need for a spiritual leader like him.
Close contacts in Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) reveal that Chamisa had caused divisions in the Church where he is a pastor, over his pastoral position. Some leaders say it was against their church doctrine for one to mix church duties and politics while AFM pastors in MDC`s Chaplain department support the idea.
MDC`s Chaplin`s department headed by AFM Pastor Douglas Mambure was created to spread the gospel of MDC and assist the opposition political party to penetrate Zanu PF strongholds.
At the memorial service, Chamisa also said he had in 2008 objected Vimbai Java to venture into politics as he thought that it would obstruct her pastoral duties.
Chamisa`s deputy, Tendai Biti who was also in attendance reportedly uttered surprising statements which exposed fissures between him and Chamisa as internal wars continue to gain momentum. Biti reportedly told the gathering that the country no longer wanted a Zanu PF or an MDC leader but a national leader, somebody who is capable of delivering Zimbabwe into a better future.
Political analysts concluded that Biti clearly disqualified his boss as a national leader and sees himself as a better leader than Chamisa. The West is also now seeing Biti as a better opposition leader than Chamisa who is increasingly being seen as weak and indecisive, and Biti has been identified as a more desirable future leader of Zimbabwe.
Vimbai Java succumbed to injuries sustained in a horrific crash on her way from Bulawayo, where she had gone to attend party meetings in May, an accident which also claimed the lives of Paul Rukanda, the late MP’s campaign manager and councillor Tafadzwa Mhundwa, a brother to her late mother, Susan Tsvangirai.
