ZANU PF MINISTER APOLOGISES AFTER USING CHURCH TO PUSH POLITICS

A big mistake happened in Nyanga, Manicaland, when Sports Minister Anselem Sanyatwe made shocking political remarks during a church event. He told people that ZANU PF will rule Zimbabwe forever — “until donkeys grow horns.” This caused anger and confusion among many people, especially church members who felt disrespected.

Sanyatwe was not alone at the event. He was with his wife, Chido, and also with rich businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei and his wife, Sandra. The event was organised by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Nyanga North, where Tagwirei made donations during an evangelistic campaign. But what was supposed to be a spiritual event turned into a political mess.

After the public backlash, Sanyatwe apologised to the church for his words. His apology came after the church leadership raised their concerns strongly. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church is clear that it does not support or allow politics to be mixed with church activities. They want the church to be a safe and neutral place for everyone, no matter which political party they support.

Zibusiso Trust Ndlovu, who is the executive secretary of the Zimbabwe East Union Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, wrote a letter on behalf of the church. In this letter, he said clearly that the church is apolitical and does not support political speeches inside its buildings or events. He said this rule is non-negotiable. That means no one, no matter who they are, should be allowed to break it.

The letter said that while the church can welcome public leaders as guests, it never gives them permission to use the pulpit for politics. What Sanyatwe did was not planned, and the church did not approve it. The church leadership acted quickly and told him that what he said was wrong. Sanyatwe then apologised on the same day.

This shows that some government officials still do not respect the church. They try to use any platform — even holy places — to promote ZANU PF. That is very wrong. People go to church for peace, worship, and guidance. They do not go there to hear about politics or party promises. It is not fair for the government to enter churches and force people to listen to propaganda.

The Adventist Church has made its position clear. They said the work of the church is to preach the gospel, not politics. Their job is to prepare people for the return of Jesus Christ, not to help ZANU PF stay in power. They reminded everyone of the Bible verse from John 18:36 — “My kingdom is not of this world.” This means the church should focus on God’s work, not the business of politicians.

The church also encouraged members to raise any problems in the right way, using the Bible’s teachings. This includes following steps like speaking to someone privately, then bringing in others if the issue is not solved, and finally taking it to the church leadership if needed.

This incident should be a warning to all politicians. The church is not your stage. It belongs to God, not to political parties. If we allow leaders to continue like this, soon there will be no safe space left in Zimbabwe. Everything will be turned into a campaign rally — even funerals, weddings, and worship services.

The people of Zimbabwe are watching. They are tired. They are angry. And slowly, they are waking up. Sanyatwe’s apology is not enough. What we need is a full stop to this kind of behaviour. Let the church be the church. Let the people worship in peace. And let ZANU PF stop turning every platform into a tool for control.