ORDINARY members of different Apostolic and other independent African Initiated Churches say they will not be forced to vote for President Robert Mugabe in the forthcoming elections later this year.
BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
Some leaders of the churches recently proclaimed that they would mobilise millions of their members to vote for the 89-year-old leader in elections likely to take place in July this year.
But ordinary members of different Apostolic churches around the country last week said while they respected their church leaders, they could not be influenced on their individual choice of candidates.
“My vote is my secret. If my church elders and senior prophets want one candidate, that does not mean that the whole church will back that individual,” said a worshiper of Johanne Masowe Wechishanu.
A woman from the African Apostolic Church in Masvingo said people had a right to choose a leader of their choice.
She said no church leader could influence who she would vote for, as she was not a “zombie”.
“While we may seem to concur with our leaders at public functions, what lies underneath our hearts may be very different,” said the Apostolic church member.
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“I know of several church members who think like me.”
However, another worshipper from Johanne Marange said, most church followers took the word of their leaders seriously.
But Judah Masamvu from Johanne Marange church in Harare said: “We are not guided by one’s belief. While some of our leaders might say they are going to vote for Zanu PF, that statement does not necessarily reflect our views. I will vote for a party of my choice when the time comes. My vote is my secret.”
Another member of the church, who requested anonymity, said while their leader, Noah Taguta had urged them to vote for Mugabe, they would make independent decisions.
“He [Taguta] did that last time and told us to vote for [Chris] Mushowe [Mutare West] but he went on to lose,” said the Johanne Marange member.
“Even the Presidential votes were in favour of Tsvangirai. This should be a reflection of what people can do. We cannot be forced to vote for a candidate whom we do not want. Our church has no room for politicians.”
A woman member of the same church said: “There have been repeated calls for us to vote for Zanu PF and Mugabe in the forthcoming elections.
“Some of us fear that there will be consequences if we do not heed the calls. But in the last elections, the people spoke by the ballot. God has a way of doing things. People now know what they want.”
Isaiah Bvumbe, the Zimbabwe Apostolic Faith church bishop in Manicaland said: “We worship God and not politicians. Our church has no room for politicians. we are apostles of God and not apostles of Zanu [PF.]”
Bvumbe criticised church and traditional leaders who were blindly glorifying Zanu PF.
“God will wipe away our tears when the time comes. The chosen one will lead this country. We are saying the time will come when the political leadership will be given judgement by the Almighty God,” Bvumbe said.
In Harare, members of various Apostolic sects expressed different feelings over the issue of voting for Zanu PF in the next general election.
“We are not forced to vote for a political party, but I can go with my family and vote for whoever we want,” said Mike Muganyi of Johanne Masowe.
However, a lady who did not want to be identified said they would vote for Mugabe because Apostolic sects have been looked down upon before the President started visiting them in 2009.
“We were not on the limelight until the President came and now our churches are popular because of him,” she said.
“So why not vote for him?”
Our leaders are apolitical: worshippers
Madzibaba Jerry Mubaiwa of Johannes Masowe yeChishanu in Tshabalala high-density suburb in Bulawayo said they were never told to vote for Mugabe by their leaders.
“We have not been told to vote for Zanu PF or any other party,” he said.
“Casting a ballot has always been a personal choice and I will exercise my right to vote for a party that I support.”
Efreey Zhuwao of the Johane Masowe in Emakhandeni high-density suburb said: “Our prophets will never preach politics during our gatherings. I think this is because they know that we support different political parties even though we might be one big family.
“I doubt that church members can be swayed to vote for a certain political party by our church leaders.”
