HARARE - Nazareth Ministries founder and pastor Antony Nazareth has been hauled before the Harare Civil Court by his church elder over a $117 debt.
Leonard Mapindure told Harare Civil Court magistrate Gamuchirai Siwardi that Nazareth owed him the money after his wife and aide purchased clothing from him on credit.
Mapindure said he also serviced the pastor’s generator but he refuses to pay him for the service.
“Nazareth is my pastor at Nazareth Ministries and is refusing to pay the $117 that he owes me,” Mapindure said.
“His wife borrowed two pairs of shoes valued at $20 and he said he was going to pay for them. On another occasion, his generator developed a fault and he asked me to have it repaired of which I did for $27 which he promised to pay.
“He has a container of ‘Holy Water’ which he gives to his congregants. He sent me to buy the containers but did not give me enough money. I topped up with $20 which he also promised to give me.
“His church aide called Prince also borrowed five shirts valued at $50 which Nazareth said he would pay after Prince went to South Africa. When he started refusing with my money, I wanted to kill him but later felt pity for him.”
Mapindure also told the court that he also supported the church financially and were it not for him, the church would have crumbled a long time ago, he claimed.
Nazareth denied owing Mapindure any money saying he entered into transactions with his wife and aide on their own mutual understanding.
“I am not aware of the deals he engaged with my wife and he should demand his money from my wife not me,” Nazareth said.
“He should summon the people who owe him money not me. About the generator and the container, he volunteered to repair it as well as purchase the containers. He was not forced.”
Magistrate Siwardi ordered the duo to bring witnesses and postponed the matter to today.