Apostolic sects slammed
Saturday, 21 May 2011 23:47
By Silas Nkala
SOME church organisations in the country have condemned apostolic sect
churches and Zanu PF for turning their churches into venues for political
rallies.
The condemnation comes after Zanu PF has targeted the apostolic sects in an
effort to boost its dwindling support base.
It is believed that Zanu PF forcibly obtained most signatures for its
anti-sanctions petition from apostolic sect church members. Recently state
media reported that at least 2,2 million people had signed the
anti-sanctions petition.
Association of Evangelicals in Africa’s Director of Ethics, Peace and
Justice Commission in Southern Africa Patson Netha said the church should be
a place of uniting the people from different political parties.
He said the chanting of political slogans which have characterised
gatherings of some apostolic sects in recent months was illegal and must be
stopped.
Such activities are not only offending to some people but to God as well, he
said.
“The church must be for everyone so that it can deal with issues of
injustice,” said Netha. “The Church must not take sides on any party
politics.”
Netha said the church must speak against the perpetuation of injustice no
matter which political party is responsible.
The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) executive director Useni Sibanda said
the “invasion” of the independent Apostolic Faith sects by Zanu PF was an
unfortunate development that would infringe on the freedom of religion.
“We call upon the church leaders to maintain their credibility by not
allowing themselves to be manipulated by politicians,” said Sibanda. “There
is need to maintain a critical prophetic distance between the Church and the
State. We also call upon Copac to respect the views of the Church and the
Christian community on the separation of the state and the church.”
The Christian community emphasised during the constitutional outreach that
the church needed to independently handle its issues through the relevant
Church umbrella structures without the interference from the state.
Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo dismissed accusations by church
organisations saying they were nothing but a manifestation of jealousy over
his party’s cordial relations with the apostolic sects.
“Any church is free to associate with any party. There is no one who should
come between God and churches. We know they support opposition parties and
the West. Is that what God told them to do?” asked Gumbo cynically.
President Robert Mugabe, Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Zanu PF ministers
Webster Shamu, Nicholas Goche and former minister Amos Midzi have been
featured on national television attending Apostolic and Zion churches
services, where they are said to have preached their party mantra.
Zanu PF politicians have been featured in the media wearing apostolic sect
regalia, a move which other churches described as “blasphemous and an abuse
of the sect’s regalia and misuse of avenues meant for worshiping God.”
Some of the church leaders have been seen chanting anti-sanctions slogans
and encouraging their members to sign the petition.
Efforts to get a comment from the Johanne Masowe, Johanne Marange, Zion and
other apostolic churches were fruitless.