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BISHOP KHANYAKWEZWE BATTLES LEAGUE OF CHURCHES

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MBABANE – Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati is embroiled in yet another battle, this time with the League of Churches, after the latter refused to register his church under the name Melika Jericho Church in Zion.


This follows His Majesty the King’s pronouncement that each of the two Jericho Church leaders in Bishop Khanyakwezwe and Bhekibandla, establish separate denominations.
The President of the Swaziland League of Churches, Bishop Samson Hlatjwayo, confirmed having refused to register Bishop Khanyakwezwe’s new church for having used his father’s name-Melika. He said the two Jericho factions were not expected to change names but maintain the same Jericho Church in Zion name as well as the gowns.


“Last month they (Bishop Khanyakwezwe’s faction) did come to register their church wherein they submitted a new name in Melika Jericho Church. We rejected this (sakucitsa loko) on the grounds that the whole Jericho Church doesn’t change. “It remains just that. How one faction will differ from the other is in terms of the badges and their respective constitutions,” said Bishop Hlatshwako.


He, nonetheless, said Bhekibandla’s faction was now fully registered under the League of Churches as they had their house in order.  “The Mankayane faction (Bhekibandla’s church) is in the process of designing its own badge and we advised them to take their time in coming up with their own design. However, we told them that by Good Friday they should have been done,” said Hlatshwako.

However, Bishop Khanyakwezwe is bitter and feels there is something that is not being rightly explained to him, which the League of Churches president ought to come out clear on. “There is a problem that needs to be addressed. Kufanele kuhlalwe phansi kukhulunywe. What Bishop Hlatshwako is saying is very much problematic because it was their call that each party must start its own and not use what belongs to our father (Melika Sigadlasenyama Vilakati),” opened up Bishop Khanyakwezwe saying the situation was now very frustrating and confusing.


“The League of Churches called upon both factions to come apply and register with it as new denominations. I did just that. I submitted my application letter, my church’s constitution, certificate from the Home Affair ministry and everything that was required. I am very surprised that all of a sudden I was said to have been on the wrong.


“When we came to register the church at the Ministry of Home Affairs we told the officials that we were heeding to the King’s call as pronounced that each faction should establish its own church. “We told them that we had come to register Jericho Church in Zion. However, we were told that it was not going to be possible because Jericho Church in Zion was registered by Melika Sigadlasenyama Vilakati.


“I was told to give my church a new name. I had no problem with that because that was what the King had blessed-that each person must start his own. I named my church Melika Jericho Church in Zion. “It was impossible to register a new church using a name that already exists and when it was explained to us, it made sense.

You cannot, for example, register your company as Coca-Cola because that already is a registered company. I was not going to be given a certificate of registration had I insisted in using my father’s church name at the government ministry,” he explained.
He said the Melika Jericho Church in Zion name was accepted by the ministry and a certificate was issued, a certificate he said he had in his possession together with the letter, authorising him as a church leader of a fully registered church. “There is nothing hidden or that was done under the blanket of dishonesty.

I do not know what the problem is with the League of Churches to register us. It is very surprising and confusing that Bishop Hlatshwako can order one thing and later turn around,” said Bishop Khanyakwezwe. He said he was even more surprised when he later heard that his rival faction had been registered with the League of Churches yet he was rejected.


“I have no idea under what name the other party has been certified by government, in the event they have been registered there or if the League accepted them under the name Jericho Church in Zion,” wondered Bishop Khanyakwezwe, saying the president needed to come out clear to them and explain what they expected of him.


He said it was so confusing that they can be told to leave everything that belongs to their father with the government ministry saying the name Jericho Church belongs to the late Melika Vilakati and he was told to come up with another name.

Comments (4 posted):

Bheki Dlamini on 06/11/2014 11:10:18
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If someone hates you there is nothing you can do to change that.I feel sorry for bishop K.Vilakati lobabe lo akamtsandzi and umtondza mbamba.akukhombisi kukholwa lenfto yababe Hlatshwako kanty uyodlala ngababe Vilakati kute kube ngunini? Ngabe uyamtjiela kutsi angabe asatihlupha sekacedzile ngelisonfto lakhe.but i what i say is that ingaty engafi loHlatshwako kuze kuphele le last 10 years yesijubo ezobona lentsandvokati yakhe loosing all his congregation to bishop K.People must know that ukutsatsa infto lekungesiyo yakho ute sibusiso sebakini it wont last.
Bheki Dlamini on 07/11/2014 10:58:19
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Dear Editor may you kindly inform the whole nation about this registration of churches as we have read that bishop K had been denied to register his faction with the name Jerico church.My request is one under which name had the honourable Dr Archbishop Bhekibandla Alex Vilakati registered his church? If we the public can be clear about this we will know whether the president is right or he is playing mind games with. Bishop K vilakati.I would be pleased if my request is taken into consideration.I thank you.
Thulani Zwane on 22/04/2015 09:58:44
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Kutawulunga makholwa, sibeke kumdzali tonke tinkinga talesontfo. Bantfu bangenela bamosha intfo yemuntfu ngoba angasekho. Lo Hlatjwayo akatikhohliwe ahlakaniphile, kantsi lelisontfo alihlakanishelwa, utativela babe webantfu. UNkulunkulu ubhekile. Naletingiloti talesontfo, talonkulunkulu letaniketwa babe sgadlasenyama tibhekile. Kutawuvala.
Ntokozo vilakati on 24/11/2015 09:58:57
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Kumnandzi kukholwa

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