… As Rev Chidindi was involved in scuffle with Central Deacon
Calvin Muvheyi
Rujeko Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) congregants are demanding financial accountability from their leadership.
It is alleged that Rev Elfas Chidindi is misusing church funds, and a shallow financial report that he presented has raised eyebrows among church members, particularly women.
The women expressed their discontent via a WhatsApp group as they feared victimization.
It is alleged that Chidindi is evading the Sungano yemadzimai (women’s wing of the church)  and the finance committee who are in charge of organizing church business and he manipulates some members of these committees to evade scrutiny.
When contacted by this publication Rev Chidindi denied all the allegations leveled against him and also said he never had an altercation with anyone from the church recently.
Congregants are demanding for the bank statements to validate the financial report from the Reverend as the accounting officer.
The Reverend is not availing bank statements for the congregants to balance the books of the church and accounts. Rev Chidindi is also alleged to be putting his nose in tendering processes and award tender projects to his close allies who in turn give him kickbacks.
A congregant who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Midweek Watch “if all books are clean, then there is no need to become temperamental, they should be presented for checks and balances, kunevanogona kubalancisa mabook which brings the question of where the money of the church vehicle which was sold during COVID-19 era is being kept, because 5yrs later the money is still in the bank? or what was it used for?”
The allegations are severe, including embezzlement of church funds through overcharging for church events and privatising church businesses. Rev Chidindi has denied these allegations, insisting that the financial books are clean.
This publication has been reliably informed that this prompted the Central Deacon identified as Hove to call for an investigation, which Rev Chidindi strongly opposed, leading to a heated debate and scuffle which almost resulted in physical altercation between the two.
“There is no smoke without fire, church members are smelling a rat within the financial statements.” The Central Deacon was heard saying this on the day.
Hove promised to share the details of the scuffle but later on pleaded with this reporter to drop the story as the matter was internal.
