THE Vapostori for ED (Economic Development)’s Bulawayo chapter launch over the weekend has sparked outrage, with political activists and human rights defenders saying some of the activities that took place during the launch were blasphemous.
Sect members held an event in Selbourne Park to throw their weight behind President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2023 presidential bid.
Various apostolic faith groups converged at Emmanuel Mutumwa’s Johane Masowe eChishanu shrine in Selbourne Park, Bulawayo, where they endorsed Mnangagwa as the country’s President post-2023 general elections.
The grouping was created three months ago before its launch on Saturday.
At the event, sect members sang songs praising Mnangagwa and unveiled a fleet of branded vehicles to be used in campaigning for him.
This irked political activists who now say the Vapostori pretend to be a religious group, yet they are steeped in politics.
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) deputy spokesperson Felix Magalela Sibanda said: “We are alarmed that they now worship mortal human beings and idols. As CCC, we feel this is the end of all these people who pretend to be worshippers of God, but use the word of God for their own aggrandisement and riches. The Vapostori are no longer a religious group, but a political group. We warn self-styled religious groups to desist from abusing others for their self-aggrandisement. They should stop worshipping mortal persons and abuse of freedom of worship in Zimbabwe.”
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association secretary for administration Thembelani Dube said: “We, as residents and citizens of Zimbabwe, want to see real economic development on the ground, not political gimmicks.”
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Ibhetshu LikaZulu co-ordinator Mbuso Fuzwayo said: “We need religious leaders who are like the late Bulawayo Roman Catholic Archbishop, Henry Karlen, who stood with the masses victimised at the height of Gukurahundi. Religious leaders must be apolitical because of the diversity of their congregants.”
During the launch at the weekend, Mutumwa said the gathering was meant to pray for the country and to support Mnangagwa.
“We have more than five million people who are already part of the apostolic organisation. Despite the differences that we have as apostolic sects, we still came together and formed this chapter. This shows that we are looking forward to a united Zimbabwe that will support our President in everything he is doing,” he said.
Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Archbold Chiponda yesterday lauded the sect members for rallying behind Mnangagwa saying freedom of worship should be respected.
“It would be difficult, if not impossible for those who seek to replace indigenous ideals with Western ideals such as same sex marriages to appeal to that sector of society. CCC also has slogans like ‘God is in it’, which means they are also using religion in politics. The alliance between Vapostori and Zanu PF goes as far back as the time of their persecution due to perceived differences with Western forms of Christianity,” Chiponda said.
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