HARARE, Jan 21 (NewsDay Live) - The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations ((ZHOCD) has urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to abide by the Constitution and step down at the end of his second and supposedly final five-year term of office.
The call comes amid intense lobbying by some Mnangagwa loyalists to allow their Zanu PF leader to extend his tenure by two years. The lobbyists, some of them key members of Mnangagwa's Cabinet ministers, have hinted at amending the Constitution to allow the Zanu PF leader serve until 2030.
But the ZHOCD, in a hard hitting letter dated January 21, 2025, urged the Zanu PF to respect the Constitution and step aside when his current term ends in 2028 to allow for fresh elections and smooth transfer of power.
“Protecting the Constitution is key to safeguarding democracy, fostering trust, and uniting Zimbabweans for a brighter, more stable future," the heads of denominations said.
They added:
“The church remains steadfast in advocating for fairness, transparency, and peace as we work together to strengthen our nation’s values and inspire hope for generations to come.”
They also urged all Zimbabweans to unambiguously exercise their constitutional right and call the political leaders to order.
To the parliamentarians, the ZHOCD urged them to contribute to judiciously play their oversight role of keeping the Executive in check to avoid abuse of power and tampering with the Constitution.
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The ZHOCD is an Ecumenical body that brings together four Apex ecumenical bodies in Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Evangelical Fellowship in Zimbabwe (EFZ), Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop’s Comference (ZCBC) and Union of the Development of Apostolic Churches Zimbabwe Africa(UDACIZA).
The Christian body used to often clash with the late Robert Mugabe over his iron fist rule and disregard of the Constitution.
