by Tendai Madinah, Zimbabwe, July 1997
THEME = RELIGION
The Registrar General, Tobaiwa Mudede, who has developed a knack for making controversial statements, says the government is devising a policy to reduce the number of Churches in Zimbabwe. He says the government intends to curtail the activities of various "prophets" who form Churches for personal gain. Mudede says his department has drawn up a stringent code for registering Churches. This comes amid concerns that certain denominations are demanding up to 10% of their members's earnings.
Mudede's statement has been welcomed by some sections of the Christian community who feel, however, that they must be invited to draft the policy. It has not gone down well with others, who feel it is an infringement on their freedom of association and worship.
Father Oscar Wermter is the Social Communications Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference. He says that the bishops are worried by the proliferation of religious movements whose credentials are dubious and doubtful. "The Catholic Church stands for unity. The historical main line Churches, such as the Anglicans and Methodists, also agree that there should be church unity. We work together in various areas such as social development work, emergency relief (Christian Care), health care (Zimbabwe Association of church-related hospitals), education and religious broadcasting. Normally, while we accept that there are differences between us, we treat each other with respect. But the new religious groups proliferating have no respect for other Churches. They say the pope is anti-Christ. They accuse Catholics of praying to the Virgin Mary".
Father Wermter says that within the new religious groups there are very often leadership wrangles, which leads to break-away Churches being founded. Also, some of these Churches boast that they are brand new Churches, having nothing to do with Churches already established. This is unchristian and promotes disunity.
He continues: "There is religious freedom in the country. It is a basic human right and the government should not interfere in the religious field unless there is a serious reason: e.g. when certain movements are shown to be socially harmful and criminal. One example is the Church of Scientology. This Church has nothing to do with Christianity. In many parts of the world it has been banned because it is recognised as a criminal organisation".
"Then there's the Unification Church which seems to have established itself in Zimbabwe. This sect is well-known for brainwashing its members and exploiting them financially".
"However, we are having problems with the government", says Father Wermter."The government wants us to register the Catholic Development Organisation as a welfare body. But we have refused. We told the government that the Catholic Development Organisation is a Church Organisation and it cannot be governed by a government minister. Government has no business to control Church activities. On the other hand, the Church must work in partnership with the government.
Father Berridge is Secretary General of The Heads of Christian Denominations. He agrees with Father Wermter's stance. He says that Churches working in Zimbabwe must fulfil certain legal requirements. "But in return, we expect the government to respect freedom of worship. There must be mutual respect and understanding between Church and State. The government is entitled to ban those Churches involved in criminal activities but care must be taken. The government is not necessarily an expert on deciding what is a Church".
Veteran journalist and creative writers rights campaigner, Raymond Choto, says there is nothing curious about Mudede's statement. It is simply a call for more openness and accountability by Churches rather than about their multiplication. In fact, he believes that there must be an Act of Parliament to protect organisations like Churches.
Ensen Mafinyane, is Secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC). He says that the whole situation is very delicate. "You cannot institute a law to control religion, as that is against freedom of worship. On the other hand, the government has the right to know what is happening within the country".
However, the powerful Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), an umbrella body of 130 pentecostal and charismatic Churches, is not happy about the code for registering Churches. The EFZ's general- secretary, Patson Netha, says that such a policy would contradict the country's constitution and the United Nations Charter on human rights which allowed freedoms of worship and association. This would be denied under the new regulations.
Pentecostal Churches question the criteria the government would use in determining genuine and fake Churches. They are also not happy about the following criticisms levelled against Pentecostals - that: They fool congregations into believing they can speak in tongues in direct communication with God; they can heal the blind; they can prophecy; they hold their services in top city hotels and halls, with members being asked to pay the cost. (Obviously the poor can't pay, therefore bringing the whole question of "class" into the life of the Church); they cheat people by sending out subscription newsletters, magazines and all sorts of merchandise with religious flavour.
One particular Pentecostal church leader is even accused of driving around in a bullet-proof vehicle imported from the USA!
END