Apostolic members vow to vote for Zanu-PF

Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
MEMBERS of the apostolic sect yesterday vowed to punish MDC-T in the forthcoming harmonised elections for neglecting them in the last five years. Speaking during a meeting with the Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial leadership at Amphitheatre, the apostolic churches said they have endured a lot of hardship under MDC-T dominated Bulawayo City Council.

“Since the MDC came into the picture in the last decade, we have been applying for stands to conduct our services and there has not been any response. Instead their councillors have been tormenting us saying our worship was against the law,” said Bishop Tsungai Vushe, the president of the Association of Apostolic Churches of Zimbabwe (AACZ).

“As if that is not enough, we have been told to conduct our services in beer gardens. This is disgusting. Ironically, a lot of churches that originated in Europe are being given multiple stands at the expense of indigenous churches.

“As apostolic churches, we do not construct buildings but we want places where we can conduct our services. The Government knows that African churches were there before and that we conduct our activities under trees.”

Bishop Vushe said the forthcoming elections were a moment of freedom, which their members would not miss.

“Semapositori ese tichavotera Zanu-PF and we already know that we have stands to conduct our services. We will go out in large numbers and vote out oppressive leaders who have denied us the right to worship,” said Bishop Vushe.

“We want to worship where we want without anyone chasing us. We also want land to build houses. We want black people to own the means of production and we support empowerment programmes.

“To us the land reform programme is not reversible. Black people should be empowered instead of receiving handouts from white people.”

Bishop Vushe castigated the MDC-T for advocating for the protection of gay rights in Zimbabwe, saying homosexuality was an abomination.

He said the apostolic sects would always identify themselves with Zanu-PF, which he described as a God fearing party.

Speaking at the same occasion, National Assembly candidate for Nketa constituency Cde Elifasi Mashaba said the apostolic sects were the only churches that uphold African values and culture.

He said the leaders of such churches contributed immensely to the liberation struggle, which gave birth to independence in 1980.

Cde Mashaba, however, urged leaders of the apostolic churches not to fight local authorities but to respect the existing bylaws and ensure that their services were conducted under hygienic conditions.

He said Zanu-PF candidates in the city were committed to fostering meaningful development and apologised for the mistakes that party leaders could have made in the past.

Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Professor Callistus Ndlovu and Bulawayo Central candidate Cde Mlungisi Moyo also attended the meeting.

Earlier in the day Zanu-PF candidates Cdes Absalom Sikhosana and Judith Ncube held a rally at Zothile Shopping Centre in Entumbane where they urged residents to restore sanity in the city by voting for the revolutionary party.

Cde Sikhosana is vying for the Senatorial seat in Mabutweni while Cde Ncube will contest the Emakhandeni National Assembly seat.

In his address, Cde Sikhosana said 31 July would be a burial day for the MDC formations candidates.

“Come 31 July, Zimbabweans will bury the MDC parties. We will say goodbye to the problems we are facing and we will never see their leaders anymore.

“The coming election is an opportunity for Bulawayo to correct the mistake it made in 2008,” said Cde Sikhosana.

“Zanu-PF candidates are working as a team countrywide and President Mugabe is our number one striker to kick the ball into the nets. We are riding on indigenisation and empowerment and this is the moment for the youths.”

Cde Ncube said Zimbabwe’s problem began with the formation of the MDC in 1999 and said the removal of the Western sponsored parties was the only solution to the challenges facing the country.

Cde Max Mnkandla, a former Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) executive member, who also attended the meeting, said the MDC-T honey moon was over as Zanu-PF was determined to win back all the seats it lost in the previous elections.

He said MDC-T councillors and ministers failed dismally to develop Bulawayo during their term of office.