adminSome of the churches on Friday said they would begin holding prayer meetings to pray for the country to hold peaceful polls.
The court last week upheld the proclamation made by President Mugabe last month for the election and nomination dates which was being challenged by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube.
Nine judges led by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, dismissed applications made by PM Tsvangirai, Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Prof Ncube, Bulawayo-based woman Ms Mariah Phiri and Mr Nixon Nyikadzino.
PM Tsvangirai and Prof Ncube’s bid to have the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act Chapter 10:20 to effect amendments to the Electoral Act set aside citing constitutional breaches also hit a snag as the court did not make an order in that respect.
Father Frederick Chiromba of the Catholic Bishops Conference said Zimbabweans should embrace the ruling.
“A decision has been made and we should work within this context to ensure a free and fair election,” he said.
“A court’s decision is binding and as a church we are behind the ruling and should pray that we as a country produce the best result. We are appealing to Zimbabweans to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner before, during and after the harmonised elections.”
Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe Bishop Trevor Manhanga urged people to tolerate each other despite having different political affiliations.
“We welcome the ruling made by the nine judges with both hands. We should bear that elections come and go. There is no need to fight as we are one. People should campaign, go and vote and celebrate the victory of their candidates in a peaceful environment,” he said.
Habakuk Apostolic Faith Mission church leader Bishop Gishon Gomo said Zimbabwe should be allowed to choose a leadership that would steer the country to economic success.
“We are happy that at last a decision has been made and the country is no longer being held at ransom by those court applications.
The country should be allowed to choose a leadership and we will be holding prayers for the country to have peaceful polls. The President has led by example, preaching peace and this is what should guide us as Zimbabwe despite supporting party A or B,” he said.
Violence, Bishop Gomo said, hindered development.
“If we fight against each other we might destroy our infrastructure which might take years to build and this means it must never be given a chance in our lives,” he said.
Dr Goodwills Shana of Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe said: “Our stance has never been about the date. It is about having a credible election. If we have a disputed election outcome then it means we will not go forward as a country.
“That credible election begins now with the way we conduct ourselves. We should always do our things in a peaceful manner and as a church we are against fighting each other.”
Online Reporter