By Patience Gondo
MEMBERS of the Beitbridge Chapter of Apostolic Church Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) on Sunday gathered in support of the Constitutional Amendment Bill No 3, seeking to extend the Presidential term from five to seven years.
Effectively, this will extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term to 2030.
The ACCZ which comprises different church organisations used their gospel and bliblical verses to support their cause saying leaders are instituted by God.
Collectively they said Mnangagwa and his current development of the country the country should be given more time to finish projects.
Some verses in the bible say authority is instituted by God (Romans 13:1), leaders should be servants (Matthew 20:26-28), and rulers must be wise, God-fearing, and honest (Exodus 18:21) to ensure justice and righteousness (Proverbs 29:2.
Prophet Amnesty Gundwana said the Constitution Amendment Bill No 3 is all about the nation appealing to the President to finish what he started, to finish all the projects.
“If we dont support our leadership we will remain behind,” he said.
Pastor after pastor led by their ACCZ president Edgar Maireva took to the stage to at Arch-Bishop Aaron Chibaya’s parish, to support the bill which will also extend the terms of councillors and members of parliament.
“President Mnangagwa should stay in power till will reach vision 2030,” He said .
Maireva asked the members to use their large numbers to vote one of their own into council so that they are well represented and some of the needs handled.
“We are many and we can use our numbers to have representatives in council so that our sects are represented. You notice that if it is a bar it quickly gets a space but if we apply for a church stand it takes time and we are pushed to the periphery,” he said.
Most of the apostolic churches in Beitbridge pray in the open because they have not been allocated spaces by the municipality of beitbridge.
Different sections of Apostolic sects and Zion Christ Churches had slots to preach and demonstrate their understanding the bill.
Sunday’s gathering by church sects could be one of the first in the province to declare their support of the CAB 3.
Later the gathering was addressed by Matabeleland South Minister of Provincial Affair and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe.