A Harare-based church leader, Apostle Trust Zvikomborero Chakona of Grace Life Embassy, was attacked during a Sunday church service by family members of a university student who claims he impregnated her and pressured her to terminate the pregnancy.
The incident occurred while Apostle Chakona was delivering a sermon at his church located in the Central Business District (CBD). Witnesses say the altercation turned physical, resulting in the pastor’s clothes being torn in front of the congregation.
The student, identified only as Jean, told H-Metro that her relationship with the pastor began in June last year and that he promised to marry her. However, after she refused to terminate the pregnancy, she claims he denied responsibility and blocked her contact. “From there he started to find some excuses and blocked my contacts,” Jean said.
Jean also alleged that Apostle Chakona had misrepresented his marital status. “He never told me that he got married because our relationship started sometime in June last year and he was promising to marry me,” she said. She further denied claims by the pastor that she had seduced him. “His statements that I seduced him and demanded to have sex with him are malicious and provoking,” she added.
When contacted for comment, Apostle Chakona admitted to having an affair with Jean. He claimed the affair occurred after his marriage in December and said Jean “kept demanding to have quality time” with him. “I gave in,” he said. However, he denied being the father of the unborn child and stated that Jean “could have been impregnated by someone else.”
The pastor also confirmed the altercation at his church. “Her relatives came to my place of worship, assaulted me and my clothes were torn. They kept verbally assaulting me,” Chakona said. He added that the family had also approached his father and were sending threatening messages. “They humiliated me in front of my congregation and are now tarnishing my name since I am a church leader,” he said.
