PUBLICISING REJECTION OF RECTOR UNCHRISTIAN - DIOCESAN

MBABANE – The Eswatini Diocese of the Anglican Church has condemned the actions of the All Saints Cathedral parishioners who have written a letter whereby they have rejected the recent appointment of Reverend Zama Sigudla as Acting Rector.

As reported in our sister publication, the Eswatini News, yesterday, the parishioners, through the Parish Church Council (PCC) wrote a letter dated December 29, 2024, to the chairperson of the Safe and Inclusive Church (SAIC) Commission in Cape Town, South Africa. It has also been copied to the Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) Archbishop Dr Thabo Makgoba.

Reverend Zama’s appointment was announced by Bishop Dalcy Dlamini in a letter dated December 17, 2024. However, the PCC has said that the appointment of an acting rector, for six months with immediate effect, after 15 months of the parish being run without an incumbent, brought a lot of questions as the PPC is patiently waiting for a consultation with the Bishop of an appointment of the substantive incumbent.

Congregations

In their letter, the PCC said, while the parishioners have their own reservations about Sigudla’s capabilities and competency, they are concerned about his alleged divisive tendencies within the parish’s congregations. “This is in addition to his arrogance as when we engaged with him, some five months ago, in respect of utilities’ consumption at the parish residence that he occupies, he shouted at us with the words, ‘Who are you to talk about this matter’?,” it was alleged in the letter. It was gathered that the parishioners believe that Canon 25 and Regulation 5, clearly stipulates that the bishop can only appoint a rector after consultation with the council, a process which hasn’t happened. 

Through the PCC, they said regardless whether it is on an acting or permanent basis, the bishop does not have a prerogative of independently appointing. As per the contents of their letter, the parishioners strongly believe that the appointment is void and not recognised and that he remains a junior assistant priest. In responses shared to this publication, the Eswatini Diocese, through Diocesan Spokesperson Reverend Sicelo Dlamini, first said the letter is cited to have been copied to the bishop, but was never delivered or sent in any way.  Regarding the rejection, the spokesperson said it is not a first of its kind that the Cathedral wardens reject or stall attempts to resolve the Cathedral issues. He said first, in a bid to implement the SAIC recommendations, the bishop recommended retired Bishop Meshack Mabuza for the 6 months interregnum period, but the Cathedral PCC rejected him and failed to recommend a retired senior clergy or bishop from the province.

“Today, an interim appointment has been made in accordance to Regulation 16 of our Diocesan regulations, again they reject.”  On the claims that the acting rector is arrogant, the spokesperson said it must be clear that Reverend Zama is the only full-time priest in the Cathedral and is well trained in theology and in Anglican formation. “We, together with him, are shocked to learn through public media that he is labelled as arrogant and incompetent. Even then, it would serve well, in our Christian ethics, for the Cathedral wardens to talk to him directly or consult the bishop who is the dean, rather than labelling and portraying him on public media as a bad person.” Also, the spokesperson said it is time for the anonymous informers that always feed church information and discuss issues through public media to come out in the open. “If they are telling the truth, why do they hide their identity? It is time we resolve these issues, but it will continue to drag if the informers hide themselves. Besabani?” the spokesperson asked.   

Reverend Sicelo said the Bishop, in consultation with the relevant structures, has made a substantive appointment of the Reverend Sigudla, as Acting Rector of the Cathedral Parish.  The spokesperson said this is based on Regulation 16, of the Diocesan Regulations.  He said the appointment is supported by a letter addressed to the Cathedral wardens by Safe and Inclusive Church, dated January 24, 2024, that the bishop, as the rightful authority, must make the appointment. “In view of the case before court, it is fit that the bishop makes an interim arrangement to make sure that the people of God in the Cathedral are taken care of,” Reverend Sicelo said.

Consultation

He said the letter is clear in paragraph three that the consultation process as per Canon 25(1) on the full-time incumbent is yet to proceed.  “The interim appointment is to ensure that the people of God in the Cathedral are taken of, while the issues of the Cathedral PCC are being attended to. It is not in any way, a violation of Canon 25(1). Even so, the ‘consultation’ referred thereto, in the Canon under discussion, is not synonymous to a negotiation,” Reverend Sicelo explained. Moreover, he said in the Christian Spirit of the letter of interim appointment by the bishop, any concerns would have been directed to the her as the person who wrote the letter, so as to fast-track the resolution of the matter. 

Reverend Sicelo said it is public knowledge that SAIC concluded the Cathedral matter, and handed over the baton to the bishop to lead the way forward. As a result, he said the path taken by the Cathedral wardens is unfortunate.  Reverend Sicelo also addressed an issue regarding a letter dated December 26, 2024, which the PCC wrote, whereby they raised concerns following a decision taken by the bishop to ban Advent Nhlanhla from attending church services, at the All Saints Cathedral. Advent Nhlanhla is the same congregant who had his pastoral licence revoked in August last year.

He is the same man who had his fellow congregants throw him a celebratory event for his 22 years of service where he was showered with cash and a special gift in the form of a Toyota Hilux D4D double cab. The bishop announced on December 13, 2024 that Advent Nhlanhla is now banned from attending church services in the Cathedral and should fellowship at the Hlatikhulu and Nhlangano Parish which are nearer to his home. The bishop advised that, should Advent Nhlanhla be around Mbabane for any reason, he may attend to the Ezulwini St Mathias or such other nearer Anglican Church, so long as it is not the Cathedral. This ban, the bishop said, does not extend to his family members, but strictly him In the letter dated December 26, 2024, written by the PCC, the parishioners they said they do not want to be party to implementing any illegal directive or request.

Parishioners

Also, the parishioners said they do not want to interfere with Advent Nhlanhla’s liberty, in particular, his freedom of association and movement. Also, they said they still consider the reverend as a dignified servant of God and will accord him the respect and dignity he deserves, owing to the selfless service he has rendered to them and the entire diocese over the years. In the responses, the Eswatini Diocese said the letter under consideration is self-implicating and that contents and argument therein are based on assumptions and perceptions of the authors. The diocesan spokesperson said the authors were not even present at Diocesan Council, yet they seem to try to teach the world the sentiments presented.

“Again, it is unfortunate that energy is spent on side issues. The Cathedral must direct concerns to the right structures to resolve the issues. Negative publicity through public media will not disintegrate or undercut the Anglican Church in Eswatini. Instead, it delays and worsens the issue before us,” the spokesperson said. He further said: “It is not Christian to publish the rejection of Reverend Sigudla, who is the only full-time Priest in the Cathedral, on public media. He is a person with feelings and family members who love him. Should there be any issues between us, let us resolve such without hurting each other on public media”.

The spokesperson said it is also worth mentioning that the persons pursuing this matter have their term of office lapsed, something that leaves everyone shocked as to why they would stall the appointment that is meant to bring normality within the Cathedral by way of preparing candidates for episcopal duties (confirmations) and further prepare the lay ministers, deacons and assistant priests to be elevated to a step higher in their calling.

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