The Zimbabwe Journalists website reports that a Harare man was shot and injured by police, who were protecting a rebel service held by ousted Bishop Nolbert Kunonga's people. Police fought running battles with parishioners in Budiriro and Glen View, who had tried to reclaim their churches from Kunonga's people.

Controversial Bishop Kunonga was excommunicated in 2007 from the church, after he attempted to unilaterally withdraw the Diocese of Harare from the Central African Province. He was replaced by Bishop Sebastian Bakare but has since used youth militia and the police to chase away Anglican parishioners loyal to the new bishop.

Bishop Bakare told Newsreel the formation of the coalition government has done nothing to stop the lawlessness affecting the Anglican Church. He said for the past 4 weeks their services have been disrupted by Kunonga's thugs, who have no following within the parishes.

On Sunday two priests, a church warden, a youth member and another church member, all loyal to Bishop Bakare, were arrested during the skirmishes. Bakare said the police are openly telling them they are out in full force to protect Kunonga and his people.

Bakare began the defiance last week in Mabvuku when he defied attempts by riot police to remove him from the altar during a service. The riot police however turned on the parishioners, driving them away from the church. He told Newsreel he urged his parishioners to defy the police and reclaim their churches.

On Sunday the members of the different parishes did exactly that, but riot police were deployed to suppress them. Angry parishioners demanded to know why the police were protecting Kunonga and some sang church hymns outside.

'Some started throwing stones at the police as the police used force to try and force the parishioners out of the church yard and building. Gunshots were subsequently fired resulting in a local who was relaxing at his home being shot and injured in the arm,' the Zimbabwe Journalists website reported. Bishop Bakare said he was still trying to verify the details of the shooting, but confirmed the skirmishes, saying they were quite serious.

Kunonga triggered controversy after publicly backing Mugabe's violent land grab and began a campaign to intimidate all opponents in the church. Many fled the country after receiving death threats. A church trial against him for abuse of church funds and intimidation collapsed, under very technical circumstances. Kunonga grabbed a farm from one of his parishioners with the blessing of the Mugabe regime, effectively confirming his alliance with regime.