By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Overseer Joel Chinhema, a married pastor at the ZAOGA FIF Church, has been expelled following serious accusations of misconduct, including impregnating two female congregants and misappropriating church funds.
The church’s Day-to-Day Committee, comprised of senior bishops based at the headquarters in Waterfalls, Harare, made the decision last week.
A church insider disclosed to the media that Chinhema admitted to the allegations.
“Baba Chinhema confessed to impregnating two women from the congregation. As a married leader, he was expected to exemplify our church’s values of ‘Fear Not, Sin Not,’ but he has fallen short,” they stated.
Sources indicate he also engaged in fraudulent activities involving church finances, resulting in feelings of betrayal among the congregants.
“In addition to his infidelity, there are significant allegations of embezzlement and financial mismanagement,” the insider commented,
Reports suggest that he specifically targeted vulnerable members of the congregation, including widows, divorced women, and young girls in search of spiritual support.
One congregant revealed, “He sent inappropriate pictures to a single lady in an attempt to seduce her. After she reported the harassment, it became a key element in the case against him.”
Additionally, there are claims regarding his neglect of his parental responsibilities, with allegations that some of the women he impregnated have come forward to describe his failure to support their children.
As part of the disciplinary measures, Chinhema has been instructed to leave the church property in Bindura and return his official vehicle, a Toyota GD6.
Concerns have also emerged about potential cover-ups within the church leadership, as some members are accused of protecting Chinhema during his rise from junior pastor to overseer.
Currently, the ZAOGA church, which has a presence in over 160 countries, has not released an official statement addressing the matter.
The unfolding situation has left church members and the wider community reeling, raising important questions about leadership accountability and ethical standards within the religious organization.