The Sunday Mail
Government has ensured that all citizens have the liberty to enjoy any religious affiliation they prefer via the Constitution. At the Inter-Faith Dialogue Conference at Arrupe College in Harare last week, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said Zimbabwe was a republic and a constitutional democracy which recognised human rights for all.
Dr Dokora said the inter-faith conference was critical in that it came at a time when Africa was confronted with volatile clashes among religions. He said, “Every person has a right to choose freely his/her position towards religion, has the right to profess a desired religious view or not to profess any religious views, to engage in religious ceremonies individually or collectively with other citizens.”
He said the right of freedom of thought and conscience was subject only to such restrictions such as to ensure public law and order, public health and defence of the reciprocal rights and freedom of other citizens.
“This means that all citizens are on the same level in respect of rights and responsibilities arising out of constitutionally guaranteed freedom of conscience.
“Where there is a conflict between one’s religious and non-religious convictions and the constitution and law, the religious person and collective shall abide by the constitution and law with the confines of lawfulness, reasonableness and procedural fairness,” he said.
Dr Dokora also noted that the Constitution acknowledged God in its Preamble.
“This is to be read as a generic reference to the divine affirmed by the religious and sometimes the non-religious. Alongside this affirmation in the Preamble, you have the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms as provided in the Bill of Rights.”
Therefore, Dr Dokora said, Zimbabweans were free to be members of any religious organisation.
“In the course of this dialogue, attempts should be made to deepen our understanding and respect of a constitutional order that fosters exclusivity, diversity and plurality,” he said.
On behalf of Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation, Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Mohsen Shojakhani said conflicts and violence were not in alignment with the teaching of any religion.
“Today, extremism and violence have made social and global relations face serious challenges and have endangered global security. Tolerance and peaceful co-existence with mutual respect for all beliefs and cultures is the most important need of the time.
“Co-operation, understanding, coexistence and tolerance play an important role in peace and security. Followers of different religions and beliefs should respect the religious teachings and beliefs of others and work on reducing violence and conflicts through unity, cooperation, development and promotion of ethical values,” he said.
The three-day conference was attended by various religious institutions that include the Cultural Centre of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Centre for Inter-Religious Inter-Civilisation Dialogue in Iran, the Department of Religious Studies of the University of Zimbabwe, the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe, the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe and Fatima Zahra College.
Also present was Malawi’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Anne Kamwendo. The dialogue focused on “Responsibilities and role of religious leaders and thinkers in promoting peaceful, co-existing and preventing violence and extremism”.
