President Mnangagwa’s Commitment To Upholding Constitutional Principles Applauded

By Desire Tshuma

The Heads Of Christian Denominations of Zimbabwe (ZHOCD) comprising apex mother bodies of christian churches including the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), the Union for Development of Apostolic Churches of Zimbabwe Africa (UDACIZA), the Zimbabwe Catholics Bishops Conference (ZCBC) and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) have welcomed the recent statement made by President Mnangagwa affirming his commitment to upholding the constitution of Zimbabwe.

In his address at the commissioning of the Mutare Teachers’ college fruit juice and water processing plant, the President pledged not to seek a third term in office, thus reaffirming his respect for the constitutional mandate that limits the Presidential term to two terms.

The ZHOCD said in a communique: “By publicly commiting not to extend his presidency beyond the legal limits, the President has taken a significant step towards reinforcing democratic norms and promoting national unity. This commitment not only upholds the rule of law but also sets a positive procedure for political stability, smooth leadership transitions and a guarantee on the predictability of our political and electoral processes.

“It is also a sterling example of servant leadership, echoing the words of our lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 20:28 which reads ‘Just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many’.”

The church has a long standing history of advocacy for constitutionalism and democratic governance in Zimbabwe. The church involvement dates back to the Lancaster House Conference negotiations, the 2006 Zimbabwe We Want National Vision Discussion Document which among other things propagated the importance of a home-grown constitution and ultimately, the significant role in the crafting of the 2013 constitution.

Through efforts such as election observation and constitutional awareness campaign, the church has consistently supported democratic processes and the respect for constitutional principles. As an institution mandated and called by God to the work of justice, peace and reconciliation, the church views the position by His Excellency as a crucial milestone in advancing the values of constitutionalism and democratic intergrity in Zimbabwe.

“The ZHOCD acknowledge and appreciate the work that the President through both his previous and current administration is doing to contribute to the transformative development of the great country.

“We encourage quality of life of the citizens and a significant boost to the economy that these developments will make. The legacy His Excellency is building through the various large scale developmental projects will no doubt leave an indelible mark on our nation’s history and will set the country on an upward, high growth trajectory,” the communique said.

“Further it is the church’s hope that during his remaining term in office, His Excellency will also prioritize the agenda of national unity and reconciliation, intensify you the fight against corruption, continue to promote public sector accountability, industrialisation and reforms that enhance judiciary independence and justice.

“Therefore, the church calls upon Zimbabweans to honour the President’s decision to support him in the completion of his constitutional term. It also calls upon all Zimbabweans to embrace a spirit of peaceful and transparent leadership renewal.

“It is imperative that the process remains free free from intimidation, violence and manipulation to ensure national stability and the consolidation of our democracy. The ZHOCD encourages every citizen to support efforts that promotes good governance and foster an inclusive democracy. The church will continue to pray for peace, justice and prosperity for all Zimbabweans and remain committed to advocating for the rights and welfare of the people, we stand ready to engage constructively will all sectors to uphold the principles of the constitution and strengthen our democratic institutions,” the ZHOCD said.