The ecclesiastical court trial of the Right Reverend Dr Nolbert Kunonga, an Anglican Bishop and strong supporter of President Robert Mugabe, took an unusual twist when the judge appointed to hear the matter stepped down.

Malawian Supreme Court Judge James Kalaile was appointed by Archbishop David Malanga, head of the Church of the Province of Central Africa, to hear the case. Judge Kalaile and his two assessors stormed out of the makeshift ecclesiastical courtroom last week in protest over the conduct of the prosecution team, which he accused of failing to follow the laws of procedure when it would not give the defence details on the charges faced by the bishop, reports The Herald. In addition, at least 36 of the 38 charges Kunonga had been facing were dropped. Those charges allege that Bishop Kunonga conducted himself in a manner unbecoming of his office, and that he had not followed the rules of procedure as stipulated in the canons.
Full report in The Herald