Online Reporter
The Herald, 26 May 1980
BULAWAYO — The Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Joshua Nkomo, yesterday called for co-operation between churches and government and assured church leaders that “no Zimbabwean Government will ever try to destroy churches”.
Addressing a packed interdenominational congregation at a thanksgiving service at St Pius Catholic Church, Bulawayo, the Minister dismissed allegations that nationalist movements were opposed to the church.
He said: “There have been allegations that people called ‘comrades’ are against the church, but today their allegations have been proved false. If you fight against a wrong-doer who happens to be a church leader, it is not the church that you are fighting against but evil.”
Calling for peace and reconciliation, Mr Nkomo said there were too many incidents involving inter-party political violence and grenades being thrown at various targets. This, he said, had to stop because the independence of Zimbabwe, which was the reason for the war, had now been achieved.
“A government comes and goes, but Zimbabwe has come for good,” he said. What was important was the birth of a new nation, not the establishment of a government. He said that it was not for the present government that people fought for, but for the achievement of their freedom and independence.
On racial relations, the Minister said it was wrong for Africans to reverse the discrimination that existed before. Mr Nkomo said many white Zimbabweans had often asked him what would happen to them when majority rule came. His answer had been that they should remain in the country as equal citizens.
“If you have black and white cattle in a kraal, you never ask what is going to happen either because they are all cattle. Similarly, black and white people have to live together because they are all people.” Mr Nkomo said all divisions based on colour or tribe had to go because God never created race groups or tribes. Neither did he give them names like “Kalanga, Bemba or Ndau”. He created people.
Lessons for today
- Dr Nkomo stresses that government and churches should work together, not against each other. This shows the value of partnership between political and religious communities for stability and development of a nation.
- He assured that no government would destroy churches, highlighting the importance of freedom of worship. It also corrects misconceptions that political movements were anti-religion.
- Dr Nkomo called for an end to political violence and conflict after independence. He emphasized that independence should bring healing and unity, not continued divisions. Zimbabwe belongs to everyone, beyond political differences.
- He rejects racial discrimination, urging that blacks should not reverse past injustices against whites. All people should be treated as equal citizens, regardless of race. He emphasized that all humans are equal, created by God as one people.
