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CLAD in white robes and a wooden staff in hand, President Robert Mugabe sang along with members of the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect at a Passover ceremony in Manicaland province recently.
Mugabe, who claims to be a devout Catholic, might have looked awkward in the flowing robes but the 86-year-old veteran leader was a man on a mission — to win the hearts and minds of the members of the sect ahead of next year’s polls.
So he had to appear like one of them. Already, Zanu PF propagandists are claiming Mugabe’s presence at the church ceremony was a sign that he still commanded popular support.
The size of the captive audience has been estimted at between 150 000 and 250 000 by the state media.
Political analysts say the country’s two main political parties have taken their fight to the pulpit in an effort to control the church constituency ahead of elections expected next year.
Weeks earlier, Zanu PF political commissar and Media, Information and Publicity minister Webster Shamu, war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda and former party spokesman Ephraim Masawi had also attended a Johanne Masowe church service in Mashonaland Central province where they urged church members to support Mugabe.
Already, some members of the Apostolic sect across the country are encouraging their members to buy Zanu PF cards in preparation for elections next year.
They have already swallowed the bait, so to speak.
Analysts say Zanu PF has realised the importance of the church constituency after Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe’s main political foe, got an arousing welcome at an Apostolic church service in April.
But the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader was not campaigning for votes.
His mission was to encourage members of the sect, discouraged by their leadership from using modern medicine, to have their children immunised against child killer diseases.
Regardless, the reception he got sent Zanu PF into panic mode.
Last week Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agents scuttled Tsvangirai’s intended address of members of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), the largest and fastest-growing of the African independent churches in southern Africa.
MDC-T said the agents threatened ZCC officials fearing that Tsvangirai would steal the limelight at the church’s annual gathering at the Mbungo Shrine in Defe, Gokwe in the Midlands ahead of the elections.
The Prime Minister was supposed to be accompanied by Vice President John Nkomo and MDC-M vice-president Gibson Sibanda.
The leaders were expected to address the church on the thorny issue of national healing and reconciliation.
A political analyst, who requested anonymity, said the church was a “sea of influence” for politicians who do not need to call for rallies.
“Definitely, it’s a sea of influence … in business we would call it a ready market,” he said.
But the analyst said there was nothing amiss even if politicians went to the church to seek votes because they have a right to freedom of association and assembly.
“It only becomes a problem when politicians force church-goers to buy party cards or when you prevent other politicians from addressing congregations,” said the analyst.
Renowned commentator in church and social affairs Father Oskar Wermter said it was common for political leaders to turn to the church at election times and join church congregations for “popularity”.
“It shows the weakness of church leaders if they allow this to happen,” he said.
“The church is not involved in partisan politics and political propaganda has no place in the house of God.”
Another political analyst who requested anonymity said Zanu PF has targeted the Apostolic sect because its members do not question what their leaders tell them.
“They are a captive electorate because once their leaders tell them that the ‘Holy Spirit’ has told them to vote for Mugabe they will just do that without a question.”
Reverend Doctor Levee Kadenge said the church constituency was crucial as it constitutes the biggest percentage of voters in the country.
“More than 75% of Zimbabweans are church-goers and ignoring that area is suicidal for politicians,” said Rev Kadenge.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) said it had no information on the possible impact the church constituency can have on the outcome of national elections.
Kadenge said campaigning for votes in the church must not be “too obvious” and must not be accompanied by threats. “In the churches, people are taught not fear another human being so even if there is intimidation it will not work.
“It will only work to those with little faith … they will become cattle fodder.”
Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said he was in a meeting when contacted for comment. Efforts to get him later were fruitless.
But political fights for the control of the church are not restricted to the Apostolic church sects.
Fights in the Anglican Church have virtually degenerated into a tussle between Zanu PF and the MDC-T, though on the surface it appears as if they are ordinary power struggles, observers say.
Bishop Nolbert Kunonga, a self-confessed Zanu PF apologist, recently barred members of Bishop Chad Gandiya’s faction from holding their annual Bernard Mizeki day commemorations at the revered martyr’s shrine in Marondera.
BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE
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