MANZINI – Bishop Mandla Mike Mkhatjwa has issued a stern warning against violence within the Enkhosini Apostolic Church in Zion, following a protracted leadership dispute that has divided the once-unified congregation.
Speaking during a vigil at Zombodze on Saturday, Bishop Mandla emphasised that no blood must be shed in the church, even amid lingering tensions linked to a rival faction allegedly led by his brother, Vusani Mkhatjwa.
The vigil was part of preparations for the church’s annual cleansing ceremony at Manzamnyama Dam, where hundreds of congregants gathered to pray and reflect. Bishop Mandla led the congregation through song and prayer throughout the night, reinforcing unity, spiritual discipline and respect for the church’s hierarchy.
He made it clear that any act of violence would not be tolerated.
“There must be no fighting among us. Whoever spills blood will be fined a cow,” he warned, laying down a firm rule on how disputes should be handled within the church.
The bishop also reminded congregants of the church’s long-standing respect for the monarchy.
“As a church, we respect Their Majesties and follow their commands. When the King calls, we must answer,” he said.
This was a reaffirmation of the church’s loyalty and adherence to the laws and expectations of the kingdom. The warning comes shortly after the High Court delivered a decisive ruling in Bishop Mandla’s favour, effectively barring his brother and the opposing faction from conducting church services or ordaining bishops at the late Bishop Jobe Mkhatjwa’s Mahlabatsini homestead.
Judge B.W. Magagula’s order interdicted the respondents from continuing with their planned ordination activities and directed them to pay the costs of the application. The legal battle, which has spanned more than two years, centred on control of the Enkhosini Apostolic Church in Zion and its assets.
Both factions claimed legitimacy over spiritual leadership and the founder’s estate, creating confusion and division among congregants.
Bishop Mandla argued that his brother’s faction had been attempting to mislead the faithful through social media advertisements and invitations for an ordination that was not validly conducted.
Bishop Mandla had approached the High Court on an urgent basis to halt the planned ordination of Vusani, scheduled for February 28, 2026.
He described the certificate presented by the opposing faction as a fluke document intended to mislead both the court and the congregation. He argued that any delay would render the application meaningless, given the ordination was imminent.
The court ruling confirmed Bishop Mandla’s position and followed his official ordination as bishop on January 17, 2026, at Gilgal. The ceremony, which concluded more than two years of internal conflict, was attended by over 200 congregants, with Bishop Thulani Dlamini of the Kukhanya KwamaKrestu Church in Zion conducting the ordination.
Despite the court victory and official ordination, he emphasised reconciliation and spiritual unity rather than confrontation. At Zombodze, he appealed to members to focus on faith, prayer and the upcoming cleansing rituals at Manzamnyama Dam. The vigil, which began on Saturday evening and continued until the congregation departed around 7am yesterday, reflected the bishop’s determination to guide the church back to peace and cohesion.
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