shloboe boe
Cuthbert Mavheko, mavhekoc@gmail.com
The Government’s efforts to obliterate the scourge of corruption are quite commendable.
It is very important to stress that corruption is, by it’s very nature, an aberration and harms, not only public and private institutions, but terribly taints the image of the country. On the same breath, it is essential to understand that corruption is one of the strongest impediments to sustainable development.
I remember when music legend Thomas Mapfumo released his hit song Corruption in the late 1980s, the song made little or no sense at all back then as most people only enjoyed it for entertainment. However, Mapfumo’s prophecy has turned into a frightening reality as corruption has now assumed alarming levels in Zimbabwe, leaving the country hanging precariously on the precipice of a moral and ethical Armageddon.
Let it be seriously noted that corruption has permeated many public institutions in the country. Corruption has also reared its ugly head in the private sector.
Apart from wreaking havoc in public and private institutions, the scourge of corruption has now spread its hideous tentacles into the Church. While church leaders are supposed to be custodians of a nation’s moral and ethical values, the sad reality on the ground is that this is no longer the case nowadays. The quest for materialism has caused many church leaders to abandon their core job of turning sinners to God and are engaging in sickening acts of corruption. Indeed, it presents a perplexing paradox to note that today, some church leaders are more concerned with feathering their nests than with worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
These corrupt church leaders are leading profligate lifestyles. They are embezzling church funds and buying luxurious cars, funding their businesses and building flamboyant mansions for themselves in exclusive suburbs. If indeed the truth be told without prejudice, the quest for material success has become an all-consuming goal for many church leaders nowadays. The burning desire for more possessions, more money, luxurious cars, flamboyant mansions and glamorous lifestyles has seen many church leaders engaging in corrupt activities.
Speaking to H-Metro on the sidelines of his graduation celebration held at his church in Harare last year, Bishop Roger Jeffrey, leader and founder of Tabernacle of Worship Family Ministries, said many church leaders were taking the Christian Ministry as a business.
“The main problem with today’s church is that most of the leaders are in it for prosperity. To some, the church is now a business venture . . . Instead of exploiting members, the church should empower people spiritually and economically,” said the Bishop.
It is pertinent to point out that one of the commandments that the Creator God thundered from the top of Mount Sinai — the eighth commandment — says: “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20 verse 15). Because many church leaders no longer fear disobeying God’s laws, corrupt activities are growing at an alarming level in some churches.
One insightful observation that I have personally made since pitching my tent in the Christian camp many years ago is that a significant number of churches in the country have been infiltrated by wolves in sheep’s clothing. These are criminal elements, who masquerade as followers of Jesus Christ. Their modus operandi is simple: they elevate their friends and proxies to positions of authority as pastors, deacons, bishops, finance officers etc in their respective churches so as to facilitate the embezzlement of church funds and other corrupt activities.
“Church leaders are supposed to be guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Holy Bible.
However, what is happening today is that some church leaders pay mere lip service to the teachings of Jesus Christ as their lifestyles are anti-Christ. By good words and eloquent speeches they deceive their church members,” said Father Alex Mukaro, a Masvingo-based Roman Catholic priest.
He said church leaders can make a positive impact on society by being exemplary.
“Church leaders have a moral and spiritual obligation to set good examples to ordinary congregants by avoiding getting involved in corrupt activities such as the embezzlement of church funds, which is rampant in many churches today,” said Father Mukaro.
The embezzlement of church funds is prevalent in many churches, not only in Zimbabwe, but all over the world. An article titled Embezzlement in the Church by Robert Lemon, published in the magazine
“Adventist World”, says the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) has, over the years, faced a number of significant financial losses, some in excess of US $1 million through embezzlement.
Some years ago, a Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Luveve embezzled thousands of US dollars from the church and relocated to Tanzania, where he is reportedly now running a restaurant business. Last year, a 51-year-old Harare man and his two wives appeared in court for embezzling US$29 963 from the St James Anglican Church in Warren Park.
The above cases are just a tip of the proverbial iceberg. The embezzlement of church funds is flourishing like flowers in bloom in many churches. However, oftentimes these cases are kept a closely-guarded secret. Church authorities shy away from exposing these shenanigans for fear of damaging the reputation of their churches.
If truth be told without prejudice, corruption rules the roost at some churches, which has resulted in many congregants leaving church.
One striking observation that I personally made during my tenure of office as a Ward history consultant at a church I attended was that the church had been infiltrated by criminal elements. The following illustrations buttress this pertinent observation. The church had a programme where congregants, who faced economic difficulties and could not afford to buy food for their families were provided with basic foodstuffs like mealie-meal, rice, cooking oil, sugar, flour and so forth. But some church leaders were taking all this food and giving it to their families, relatives and friends.
This reminds me of an incident that happened during the Covid-19 era. As we were facing economic difficulties during that period, Brian (not his real name), a church elder and several other church members, including this scribe, approached the Ward Bishop and requested foodstuffs from the church. The Bishop gave us some forms to fill in. After filling in the forms, we were told that the church would provide us with the foodstuffs within a week. But this turned out to be mere amusement talk.
After we had waited for almost two months without getting the foodstuffs, Elder Brian confronted the Bishop and had an altercation with him. After this altercation with the Bishop, Elder Brian was clandestinely given his portion of the foodstuffs and told (by the Bishop) not to reveal to anyone that he had received the foodstuffs. Indeed, it was grossly unfair and supremely scandalous that some of us never got the foodstuffs despite the fact that we had filled in the necessary forms sanctioning us to receive the foodstuffs.
The church also funded an education programme and, according to my research and theoretical analysis, it was mostly church leaders, their families, friends and relatives who were benefitting from this education programme. Some church leaders were even using funds from this education programme to advance their own academic qualifications and educate their children, relatives and friends.
A former member of a prominent church who spoke on condition of anonymity, had this to say:
“The church is being run by corrupt people. After my daughter completed her Ordinary Levels a few years ago, she enrolled at United College of Education to train as a teacher. As we were short of funds to pay her fees, my wife and I asked the Bishop of our church to sanction the provision of church funds for our daughter’s education through the church’s education programme. But the Bishop flatly turned down our request. What really pained us is that at the time some church members related to the leadership of the church, were being educated through the church’s education programme.
“It is equally important to mention that during the Covid-19 era, church authorities gave our bishopric cellphones to distribute to church congregants to facilitate communication among church members as the Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted church services. However, members of the bishopric sold these phones and pocketed the money. The problem with our church is that such cases of corruption are never reported to relevant authorities.”
A few years back, President Mnangagwa’s administration launched “Operation Mari Wakaiwanepi” (where did you get all that money from) to investigate public prosecutors and other Government officials living lavishly. It is the considered opinion of this scribe that the Government should also investigate church leaders who are living in the lap of luxury. As mentioned earlier, some of these corrupt church leaders have built flamboyant mansions in exclusive suburbs and cavort about the country in luxurious cars while ordinary church members watch as if a circus is in session.
It is a matter of public record that corruption has become a cancerous scourge in many churches. Given the foregoing as a backdrop, I humbly opine that a thorough cleansing exercise is urgently needed in all local churches to weed out church leaders suspected of engaging in acts of corruption. Corrupt church leaders are tarnishing the image of the church and should be dragged before the courts to face the full wrath of the law. This will not only free the church of the evil spirit of corruption, but will also serve as a deterrent to anyone else disposed to corruption as a way of getting rich quickly. It is said a fish rots from the head. This is an incontestable truth as church leaders set examples which ordinary congregants are likely to follow. It cannot be over-emphasised that the church needs corruption — free and God-fearing leaders in order to improve the moral and spiritual lives of congregants.
In signing off, it is crucially important to remind church leaders that they have been entrusted with a great responsibility as stewards of God’s assets. When caring for the Lord’s church, they must ensure that they follow the highest standards because one day they will be held accountable for what they do with the resources God has placed in their hands. I rest my pen.
Cuthbert Mavheko is a freelance writer and theologian. He can be contacted on 0773963448/0775522095 or via Email mavhekoc@gmail.com
