News / National
Jonathan Moyo slams Zimbabwe Council of Churches
3 hrs ago |
235 Views
Former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo has criticised the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) over its opposition to the proposed Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3) Bill, accusing the religious body of straying into partisan politics.
In a statement posted online, Moyo said the ZCC's submission to Parliament, dated 13 April, went beyond moral guidance and instead resembled "a manifesto of an opposition political party".
The ZCC had recently urged Parliament to reject the amendment bill, warning that it could have negative consequences for governance and the country's democratic trajectory, including implications for the legacy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
However, Moyo questioned whether a religious organisation should adopt what he described as a sweeping political position on a constitutional matter.
"When a major religious body like yourselves offers such direct and sweeping opposition to the Bill… you risk undermining and weakening not only these institutions but also important constitutional processes," he said.
He argued that Parliament is the constitutionally mandated body responsible for law-making, while the judiciary interprets the law, and cautioned against what he described as institutional overreach by religious groups.
Moyo also criticised the content of the ZCC's submission, saying it lacked supporting evidence and relied on politically charged language.
He singled out the council's claim that the amendment "fails to protect the vulnerable," arguing that the assertion was not clearly linked to specific provisions within the bill.
Describing the submission as "unusually partisan," he said it was disappointing given the ZCC's historical role in mediation and civic engagement.
Moyo added that religious institutions are most effective when they provide moral guidance in a balanced manner while leaving constitutional processes to democratic institutions.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3) Bill is currently under public consultation until 17 May and has sparked widespread debate among political, legal and civic stakeholders over its potential impact on governance and constitutional norms.
In a statement posted online, Moyo said the ZCC's submission to Parliament, dated 13 April, went beyond moral guidance and instead resembled "a manifesto of an opposition political party".
The ZCC had recently urged Parliament to reject the amendment bill, warning that it could have negative consequences for governance and the country's democratic trajectory, including implications for the legacy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
However, Moyo questioned whether a religious organisation should adopt what he described as a sweeping political position on a constitutional matter.
"When a major religious body like yourselves offers such direct and sweeping opposition to the Bill… you risk undermining and weakening not only these institutions but also important constitutional processes," he said.
Moyo also criticised the content of the ZCC's submission, saying it lacked supporting evidence and relied on politically charged language.
He singled out the council's claim that the amendment "fails to protect the vulnerable," arguing that the assertion was not clearly linked to specific provisions within the bill.
Describing the submission as "unusually partisan," he said it was disappointing given the ZCC's historical role in mediation and civic engagement.
Moyo added that religious institutions are most effective when they provide moral guidance in a balanced manner while leaving constitutional processes to democratic institutions.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment No. 3) Bill is currently under public consultation until 17 May and has sparked widespread debate among political, legal and civic stakeholders over its potential impact on governance and constitutional norms.
Source - online
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
