Addressing delegates at the Zimbabwe College of Music graduation ceremony for Pastors in Harare today, Tsvangirai called on politicians to respect the church and not use it for political expediency.
“It is wrong for politicians to go to the church and start chanting their political party’s slogans.
“Go to church for prayers and stop using the church as ground for campaign purposes,” said Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai’s statement comes in the wake of claims by his party's National Organising Secretary, Nelson Chamisa that the MDC- T had received complaints from members of the Apostolic sect seeking protection from Zanu (PF).
Leaders from Zanu (PF) have since 2010 been targeting the church, youths and women in their quest for support and the party's central committee has reportedly confirmed the strategy.
In a related development, the president of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ), Bishop Johannes Ndanga said over 620 churches registered under the church were busy registering their members to vote for Zanu (PF)..
Tsvangirai said the church plays a critical role towards a peaceful poll and urged church leaders to continue praying for “violent free elections.”
“Continue to pray for peace in our communities, on farms, villages and in the families. We should not record any deaths from politically motivated violence.
“Pray that the peace that we preach as political leaders translates to the grassroots. Let us preach the gospel of peace through choral music and outsmart the pitfalls of violence,” said Tsvangirai.
The Country Director for the Federation of Choral Music, said the graduation of the 33 choral masters marks the beginning of “championing the gospel through choral music.”
Freckson Ropi said: “This training is our first in Zimbabwe. We look forward to hosting our first ever choral music competitions where we have already secured the grand prize of a brand new Mercedes benz.”
The training workshop for the choral masters was organised by the Zimbabwe College of Music in partnership with the Federation of Choral Music in Zimbabwe.
Post published in: News