Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
THE Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, has urged Zimbabweans to embrace the country’s religious diversity, saying unity across faiths forms a cornerstone for peace, social cohesion and sustainable national development.
Advocate Mudenda made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the Religious Liberty Festival held recently in Victoria Falls, a city widely regarded as a symbol of national pride, unity and international engagement.
The festival was organised by the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Association (Parl) of the Seventh day Adventist Church, working in partnership with other faith based and civic organisations, under the theme “Celebrating Religious Liberty and Peaceful Inter Faith Co existence in Zimbabwe.”
Speaking on the Religious Liberty Legal Framework in Zimbabwe, Advocate Mudenda said the country’s Constitution provides a robust foundation for peaceful coexistence among people of different beliefs.
“The preamble to the Zimbabwe Constitution enshrines a solemn acknowledgement that towers above all subsequent provisions by recognising the supremacy of Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies.
“This declaration predicates a key philosophical and theological commitment by the Zimbabwean people that their destiny is God anchored,” he said.
Advocate Mudenda emphasised that religious freedom in Zimbabwe is not a privilege granted at the discretion of the State, but a constitutionally guaranteed and justiciable right, entrenched in Sections 58 and 60 of the Constitution.
“These provisions guarantee freedom of association and worship, as well as the right not to be compelled into any religious observance.
“The Constitution protects the believer and the non- believer, the devout and the sceptic, the religious majority and the secular marginalised with equal constitutional vigour,” he said.
Placing the discussion within an African philosophical context, Advocate Mudenda noted that religion is deeply woven into African identity, governance and everyday life.
He cited renowned Kenyan theologian John Mbiti, who observed that Africans are “notoriously religious”.
“Religion permeates into all departments of life so fully that it is not easy or even possible to isolate it,” he said.
He further linked religious harmony to national development, drawing on President Mnangagwa’s philosophy, Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo.
“A unified nation, bound by mutual respect across religious lines, is better positioned to drive development. When we appreciate that our diverse beliefs coexist under the same constitutional protection, peace and progress can flourish,” said Advocate Mudenda.
However, he stressed that religious freedom is not absolute, cautioning against its misuse to shield criminal activity. He cited the conviction of Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa for crimes against children as evidence that legal protections cannot be exploited for wrongdoing.
“Constitutional protection does not shield criminality cloaked in religious garb,” he said.
Advocate Mudenda called for sustained interfaith dialogue and stronger institutional frameworks — including platforms such as the Zimbabwe Council of Churches — to preserve harmony and prevent conflict.
“Future generations must inherit a country where religious liberty thrives, faith traditions coexist peacefully, and constitutional guarantees translate into lived reality,” he said.
The well attended festival featured workshops, musical performances and messages from religious leaders and civic figures, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s longstanding tradition of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and respect for freedom of belief.
Peter Tanyanyiwa