Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. A UNITED Methodist Church pastor in Borrowdale faces imprisonment after residents filed an urgent contempt of court application, alleging that the church violated a High Court order prohibiting it from conducting services in the area.
The dispute centres on Number 9 Doveton Road, where the church has allegedly operated without renewing its lapsed 2017 town permit.
In case HCH2095/23, Justice Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa ruled on June 5, 2025 that the church should obtain approval from health and fire authorities and cease all services until it becomes compliant.
The permit, which lapsed on July 31, 2019, due to non-compliance with its conditions, has allegedly not been renewed or extended.
Residents allege that the church defiantly resumed services on June 29 in violation of a court order, according to their affidavit filed through Kantor & Immerman Legal Practitioners.
The church, represented by vice- layleader Thankful Musukutwa, however, filed a notice of opposition and an opposing affidavit on July 25, 2025.
Musukutwa argued that the church resumed services after obtaining a temporary permit from the City of Harare on June 9, 2025.
The church contends that the permit, issued by the director of works, authorises its activities subject to conditions such as providing ablution facilities, potable water and adequate parking space.
The church argues the pastor, not cited in the original order, cannot be held in contempt or imprisoned without being given the chance to respond.
The residents, however, argued that the temporary permit is a “legal nullity”, alleging that it lacked grounding in local planning laws.
They seeking a court order declaring the church in contempt, committing the pastor to 90 days in prison and awarding costs on an attorney-client scale, citing nearly a decade of legal disputes and financial prejudice.
The matter is pending.
The decade-long dispute highlights growing tensions between religious institutions and communities over urban land use in Harare’s affluent suburbs.
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