Bulawayo — The government has ordered the Anglican Church priest who presided over the funeral of Gloria Olds-murdered at her farm last week-to leave the country today, amid reports that controversial Bulawayo Catholic archbishop, Pius Ncube, has fled the country for Germany.

Reverend Paul Andrianatos, 44, who last year also presided over the funeral of Martin, Olds' son also murdered by suspected war veterans, was given up to today to leave the country after government refused to renew his work permit.

Rev Andrianatos conducted his last ceremony on Friday when he handled the funeral. Rev Andrianatos has been in the country for the past seven years.

The Reverend told The Standard yesterday that concerted efforts to renew his permit with the ministry of home affairs had failed and that he was ordered to leave Zimbabwe by today. He confirmed he would be leaving for South Africa.

Last month, the government expelled two foreign journalists after it had refused to deny their work permits.

Rev Andrianatos, who is married to a Zimbabwean teacher, said he was sad to leave the country during its trying moments.

"It's sad that my work permit has not been renewed, I would have wanted to remain in Zimbabwe.

"Since I conducted Martin Olds funeral last year, I have been constantly visited by members of the CIO who have been quizzing me on statements I made during the funeral proceedings.

"Last week, they phoned me asking about details of Gloria's funeral and why specifically the ceremony was being conducted at my church," said a distraught Rev Andrianatos.

Parishioners from Bulawayo who spoke to this paper said the reason not to renew Rev Andrianatos' permit culminated from his strong stance against government.

"The security agents are saying his speech at the funeral of Martin Olds was too harsh and we believe that is the reason they are sending him away," said one of the parishioners.

Addressing about 400 farmers and mourners who had come to pay their last respects to Gloria Olds, Rev Andrianatos said it was sad and cowardly for anyone to murder a defenceless 72 year old woman.

"These cowards, one with an AK 47, were able to steal Gloria's life, but they were not able to steal her dignity. I say to all the farmers here, they may take away your land, but they can not take away the love your family has for you-that love is more important than any land.

"People can do many things to us, but they can never determine our response to it."

Andrianatos' deportation comes in the wake of reports that Rev Ncube, accused by President Mugabe of sermons which led to Zanu PF's poor showing in Matabeleland in last year's elections, slipped out of the country three months ago after receiving death threats from suspected CIO operatives.

Rev Ncube is a well known vocal critic of President Mugabe's misrule.

He was in the news last year when President Mugabe threatened not to attend the late vice president, Joshua Nkomo's memorial service if Rev Ncube was not removed from the officiating list.

Contacted for comment, the archbishop's secretary refused to shed light on the whereabouts of Rev Ncube.

"I do not know where he is and besides I do not give interviews to journalists," said the unnamed secretary before hanging up.

Sources within the church told this paper that the archbishop's whereabouts were not openly discussed within the church for security reasons.

"Reverend Ncube has been threatened a lot and that including threats from the president and with the current situation as it is, it is safer for him to disappear from public view," said one source.