National pledge under revision

Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter

THE Government is in the process of formulating a national pledge of allegiance that accommodates learners who do not believe in God or in saluting the National flag as directed by the Constitutional court.

This was revealed by the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Angeline Gata in a written response to parliament on Wednesday.

“The constitutional court directed the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to formulate a pledge of allegiance that accommodates learners who do not believe in God or in saluting the National Flag.

“As such, our legal division is exploring this matter so that we can revise and come up with a pledge that does not violate people’s religious rights.  Therefore, at present, it is not mandatory for learners who do not believe in God or in saluting the flag to recite the pledge until the pledge has been revised,” said Deputy Minister Gata.

The constitutional court ruling CCZ20/20 judged that the national pledge is constitutionally invalid, in that it violates the right to freedom of religion enshrined in section 60 (1) of the constitution about school children not sharing the belief in the existence of God and the parental right enshrined in Section 60 (3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

In particular, the court ruled that the words on the national pledge which says, “Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies” violates the religious freedoms of learners who do not believe in the existence of God.

In addition, it ruled that the words, “I salute the national flag” also contravene the beliefs of school children, parents, or guardians who do not believe in it.

@nyeve14