AFM Zimbabwe Leadership Crisis: High Court Nullifies Chiangwa’s Election, Orders Fresh Polls

By  Pastors Toolbox (Media Desk)

On   14, 2026

15,497,947 Views

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CHURCH POWER STRUGGLE | LEGAL SHOWDOWN

AFM IN TURMOIL: High Court Declares Chiangwa’s Leadership ILLEGAL! Fresh Polls Ordered as Age-Limit Scandal Explodes!

Focus: Constitutional Breach & Election Nullification  
  Location: Harare, Zimbabwe 🇿🇼  
  Report By: Samuel Kadungure / Sona Headlines

The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) of Zimbabwe is in a state of total shock! The High Court has dropped a bombshell ruling, declaring the leadership led by Reverend Dr. Cossam Chiangwa unlawful. In a scathing judgment, the court has shredded the 2025 election results and ordered the church back to the ballot box!

JUDGMENT DAY: Justice Tawanda Chitapi ruled that the church council illegally tampered with the constitution to keep over-age leaders in power.

The crisis stems from a desperate attempt to move the goalposts—raising the retirement age from 65 to 70 just to keep the current presidium in office. But the law has spoken: the amendment was illegal, the elections are void, and the top brass are now barred from the upcoming re-run!

The Ruling The Cleanup The Blunder Verdict

The Retirement Age Scandal

The National Apostolic Council acted outside its powers when it tried to bypass the church's own constitution.

Constitutional Breach:

The 65 vs 70 Battle Clause 14.2.1 of the AFM constitution clearly states that candidates for top offices must not be older than 65. The Council illegally tried to raise this to 70 to allow Dr. Chiangwa and others to contest.

Elections Nullified Justice Chitapi declared the May 3, 2025, election of the President, Deputy President, General Secretary, and National Administrator as "null and void."

The 30-Day Countdown

The court hasn't just removed the leaders; it has mandated a total administrative reset.

Chiangwa Banned from Re-run The court ruled that Dr. Chiangwa, Rev. Chinyemba, and Dr. Nhira are ineligible to participate in the fresh elections. Only candidates who qualified as of May 2025 (under age 65) can stand.

Interim Committee Formed Within 48 hours, an interim committee of five former overseers must be elected to manage the church's administrative duties until new leadership is chosen.

A Fatal Legal Blunder

The entire defense fell apart on a technicality. The High Court struck off the church's opposing papers because the affidavit sworn by Dr. Chiangwa was improperly commissioned.

Deponent vs Commissioner Legal requirements demand that the Commissioner of Oaths must endorse the date. Because the date was filled in by Dr. Chiangwa (the deponent) instead, the court ruled the affidavit's authenticity could not be established.

SONA HEADLINES OFFICIAL VERDICT

Power Must Follow the Paper

The AFM of Zimbabwe crisis is a stark reminder that even the most powerful religious leaders are not above their own constitution. Dr. Chiangwa’s attempts to cling to power via age-limit extensions have backfired spectacularly in the hallowed halls of the High Court.

By nullifying all decisions made since 2025—including provincial delimitations—the court has effectively hit the Factory Reset button on the church. For the congregants, this 30-day window is a chance to restore order; for the ousted leadership, it is a humiliating lesson in legal accountability.

@ Sona Headlines | National News & Religious Affairs Desk

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