LONDON - The ZANU-PF infiltration of the churches in Zimbabwe is quite disturbing indeed. Mid this year Zanu (PF) President Robert Mugabe visited the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect in Manicaland in an effort to garner political support.
The Johane Marange Apostolic Church has allegedly expelled several people for being members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Movement for Democratic Change Midlands Provincial Chairman Cephas Zimuti, a councillor Marisa, party member Wondor Gomba and several others were believed to have been ejected from the church recently.
I was told by church leaders here that I was no longer allowed to attend church with them because I belong to MDC,” said Zimuti. He said the expelled members had started to pray together separately from the church.
A church official confirmed the incident saying this was because the church wanted to remain apolitical.”The people you are talking about were not expelled from the church but instead they withdrew themselves because they breached the rules of the church willingly, said the leader of the church in Gokwe, Muvhangeir Elisha Mutembeleki. “Our church does not entertain politicians, but we pray for them to prosper. These people are aware of that fact but they persisted doing politics.”
It becomes abundantly clear that the ZANU-PF intimidatory tactics of the churches is working indeed. Why on earth should the members of the MDC be barred from attending church services alongside everyone else? This is a very serious case of abuse of basic Human Rights and it must be investigated as a matter of urgency. Every Zimbabwean citizen has a right to worship where they want and with whoever they want despite their political affiliation.
What this case demonstrates is that ZANU-PF is actively recruiting leaders of the Apostolic Sect into their ranks and using them to intimidate defenceless members of the opposition. It was clear to me after Robert Mugabe visited a Joanne Marange Apostolic sect meeting that ZANU-PF was ready to infiltrate the church and weed out members of the opposition. Since the days of the late Border Gezi, ZANU-PF has looked at the Apostolic Sect as a very lucrative ground for boosting their party membership.
But this behaviour must be condemned and criminal proceedings must be brought to anyone interfering with the religious rights of fellow church members. It is Robert Mugabe and the thugs of ZANU-PF who must be barred from attending Apostolic Sect meetings and not ordinary peace loving Zimbabweans.
It is a well known fact that ZANU-PF has infiltrated the Anglican church in Zimbabwe and caused deep divisions in the church. This situation cannot be tolerated and must be condemned strongly. The Home Affairs ministers must look at this situation closely and push for the arrest of the so-called church leaders who are in-fact ZANU-PF frontmen. May the dignity of the house of the lord be maintained by rooting out these ZANU-PF thugs who call themselves men of God. – INNOCENT CHITIKI
Post published in: News