Edwin Mwase

The debate on the active role of the church in Zimbabwean politics smacks of hypocrisy.
Critics have been quick to attack Zanu-PF for its stance to engage the church in seeking peaceful solutions to the problems faced by the country.
President Mugabe and several senior party officials have in the past graced various church gatherings, much to the chagrin of rival political players.
But a rigorous look at the affairs of the church and politics shows that the two are inseparable.
Since time immemorial, the church has been an appendage of the political landscape.

Recent statistics show that over 80 percent of the world’s population is religious; hence the church becomes an active member on the political arena.
Politicians have for long been known to enlist the help of religious leaders during election time in order to woo voters.
Several examples of the church-politics inter-connection  can be cited.

The first president of independent Zimbabwe, the late Reverend Canaan Banana, was the head of state and at the same time a prominent clergyman.
Observers have been particularly vocal about what they see as a deliberate cultural effort by politicians to squeeze faith out of the political arena these days.
The role of religion in politics has been the subject of heated debate of late and, with the impending election, the question of the role of the church in politics resurfaces.

Political commentator Dr Lawton Hikwa said the church played an influential role in politics.
“The church has always adopted a theological stance for social justice, but it should desist from delving into partisan politics.
“This should be done as a matter of principle for the sake of the all-encompassing congregation,” said Dr Hikwa.

He said as a matter of policy, there was contestation as to what was defined as social justice by churches.
“Definition of social justice differs because of different church ideologies,” he said.
“Churches will follow what political parties push as agenda, that is why some churches end up being aligned to certain political parties.”
However,  the church still finds itself on the receiving end whenever it adopts a certain stance perceived to be politically partisan.

The Anglican saga in which the Archbishop Nolbert Kunonga faction has adopted a pro-liberation stance whilst the Bishop Chad Gandiya-led Church in the Province of Central Africa faction is accused of pursuing an imperialist agenda is a typical example.
Political analyst Mr Reason Wafawarova said it was hard to come up with a defined position that clergymen should confine themselves to the pulpit, just like it is

difficult to demand that politicians must restrict themselves to politics.

“Clergymen are citizens. As such, they are affected as individuals by political decisions taken by those entrusted with governance matters.
“The congregations the clergy lead are also citizens and, as such, they are affected by policies implemented by governments,” he said.
However, he says the church invites criticism when it dabbles in worldly activities.
“The honour of the pulpit gets compromised as the clergymen reduce themselves to the level of political activists, inviting upon the honour of the church the risk of vilification and open criticism.

“The role of the church in the promotion of social justice is quite biblical as evidenced by the whole credo of the book of Prophet Amos, and even by the generality of the teaching of Jesus Christ himself,” added Mr Wafawarova.
That role, observers said, was a task of placing the church as the conscience of society and the heartbeat of morality

Bishop Trevor Manhanga concurred with Mr Wafawarova, adding that the church and those who lead it had a role to play in the nation and its politics.
“We cannot say that clergymen must absolve themselves from such an important part of the national fabric, the problem is when clergymen adopt partisan positions which do not build but divide the nation.

“Pastors like everyone else vote for one party or another, which is normal. However, clergyman must not use their position to denigrate people or parties that they do not agree with.”
It is clear in the Bible that besides the biblical Joseph being a man of God, he also served as a prime minister in Egypt.

Another example is that of Moses who was a liberator, leading the people out of bondage to their Promised Land, and Daniel who played a role in politics whilst in exile.

The general consensus among the people that the church can have no authority in the operation of the state is absolutely hostile to the objectives and vision of progressive societies. 
Therefore, it becomes impossible to separate the two.
The ongoing constitution-making process has witnessed fervent participation by the church and many wait to see whether the supreme law will capture the central views of this societal pillar.
However, whether politicians will continue using the church as a fertile vote-hunting ground or are genuinely concerned about the wishes of the religious remains to be seen.