The Sunday Mail
Police will continue to intervene in cases where churches flagrantly abuse women and children as it is their Constitutional obligation to protect human rights, a senior Government official has said.
Reacting to the arrest of leaders of a Harare-based Apostolic sect last week, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Deputy Minister Fortune Chasi said police were justified to accompany officials who advocated banning the sect after it was linked to human rights violations.
Mr Chasi said although the country recognised freedom of worship, no legal framework was in place to regulate church operations.
A fortnight ago, the said Apostolic sect featured in the news after it assaulted police officers and journalists in Budiriro, Harare. The sect, led by Madzibaba Ishmael Mufani, is accused of barring congregants from accessing healthcare and education as well as organising forced marriages.
Police visited the sect’s shrine as the complainants, the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ), strongly advocated its banning.
Congregants subsequently assaulted police, journalists and ACCZ officials at the instigation of their leaders.
So far, 30 of the congregants have been arrested while Mufani is still on the run.
Following the violence, questions have been raised over the ACCZ’s jurisdiction and the presence of police officers and journalists at the scene.
Deputy Minister Chasi said while the ACCZ does not have legal powers to ban churches, police accompanied the officials following complaints of human rights abuses.
He said the officers were duty-bound to arrest the sect members.
“There is a vacuum that needs to be addressed. The Constitution protects religion, but there is no legal framework for the regulation of churches.
“Churches are self-regulated when they run operational schools. So, we need to address this vacuum. The police are agents of the State. So, they were duty-bound to effect those arrests.
“The State wants to protect the rights of women and children. When allegations of abuse of women and forced marriages arise, the police have to come in and use their powers.”
Mr Chasi added: “Zimbabwe is a democratic state but religion should be founded on acceptable moral principles. Churches should worship in whatever means they want but abuse is not acceptable in any form. Police were right to step in. Police have a duty to get involved whenever there is improper conduct amounting to criminality.
“What this whole saga represents is the oppression of women by men under the guise of religious engagements. The lawlessness we witnessed on the day was carried out by criminals under the guise of religion. The song ‘Umambo wepfumo neropa’ explains the extent of the criminality that was now part of the church.”
