ZIMBABWE CHURCHES MUST NEVER BE USED FOR ZANU PF POLITICS
Many people in Zimbabwe are angry after a Zanu PF minister made political statements in church. Sports Minister Anselem Sanyatwe said that Zanu PF will rule “until donkeys grow horns” while speaking at a Seventh-Day Adventist Church event in Nyanga. He was with his wife Chido and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei and his wife Sandra.
These words were not only offensive but also showed great disrespect. He said them during an evangelistic church program, where the main goal should have been about preaching the word of God. Not politics. Many Zimbabweans were shocked that such a statement could be made in a holy place, where people go to seek peace and spiritual guidance, not to hear about Zanu PF ruling forever.
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church later spoke out and said they do not support what was said. They made it very clear in a letter that their pulpit is not for political speeches. The church said the words from Minister Sanyatwe were not planned and not allowed. He was not given permission to talk about politics at the event. The church said he apologised on the same day after they told him what he did was wrong.
The letter was written by Zibusiso Trust Ndlovu from the Zimbabwe East Union Conference. This group helps run church activities in parts of Zimbabwe like Manicaland and Mashonaland. He said something that is very important: the pulpit must be used only for preaching the gospel and church matters. It is not a place for politicians to come and talk about who should rule or for how long. That is not the work of the church.
This is very important for us as Zimbabweans. Our churches should be safe places where we pray, find peace, and connect with God. We are tired of politicians using every space to spread their messages, even in places of worship. Churches are not campaign grounds. They are not for praising leaders or promoting political parties. When a minister of government comes into church and says “Zanu PF will rule forever,” that is an insult to the suffering of millions of Zimbabweans. It is a slap in the face of the poor, the jobless, and those living in fear.
We need to protect our churches. We must never allow them to be taken over by politics. It is very dangerous when leaders use the Bible or the pulpit to try and make their rule look holy. Zimbabweans know the difference between the word of God and propaganda. When people go to church, they are not Zanu PF or CCC or any other party. They are simply Christians. They want to hear about faith, hope, and love. Not power, control, and fear.
I am very happy that the Seventh-Day Adventist Church stood up and said no to this. They reminded everyone that their focus is on God, not politics. They showed that it is possible to tell the truth and still keep the peace. Their example must be followed by all churches in Zimbabwe. We must all say clearly: no to politics in our churches. No to Zanu PF taking over our pulpits.
The people of Zimbabwe are already struggling. Let the church remain a place of comfort, not confusion. Let it be a home for everyone, not a microphone for politicians. Minister Sanyatwe must learn from this. Just because he is a minister, it does not mean he can speak anything, anywhere. Respect must be given to the church, just like we expect the church to respect the government.
Let every Zimbabwean speak out when wrong things happen in holy places. Politics must stay out of the pulpit. Always. Forever. No matter who is in power.
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#ChurchIsNotForPolitics
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