GOD DOES NOT RUN ZIMBABWE, THE CONSTITUTION DOES

Recent remarks linked to Mr Paul Tungwarara, saying the rule of Zimbabwe is ordered by God and that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is chosen to lead until 2030, should worry every citizen who cares about this country. These words are not small talk. They touch the heart of our democracy and the safety of our future. Zimbabwe is not ruled by prophecy or personal belief. Zimbabwe is ruled by its Constitution and by the people who vote in elections.

We are a constitutional republic, not a religious state. Power does not come from the pulpit or from claims of special blessing. Power comes from the law and from the ballot. The Constitution written in 2013 is clear. It sets limits to power, fixes election dates, and protects citizens from leaders who want to stay forever. No one, no matter how powerful, can use religion to escape these rules.

When leaders say they are chosen by God, they are not respecting faith. They are using faith as a shield to block questions and silence critics. This is dangerous. Faith should guide people to do good, to be humble, and to serve others. It should never be used to scare citizens into obedience or to justify breaking the law. Mixing religion with political power in this way hurts both democracy and faith.

Our history, and the history of many countries, shows what happens when leaders claim divine right. They stop listening. They stop explaining. They stop being accountable. Corruption grows because leaders feel untouchable. Ordinary people lose their voice and become subjects instead of citizens. That is why Zimbabwe chose a people driven Constitution in 2013. We said clearly that no one is above the law.

True leadership is not proved by loud praise or public prayers. It is proved by respect for limits. Term limits are not an insult to leaders. They are a protection for the nation. They remind those in power that they are caretakers, not owners of the country. A leader who respects term limits shows that they trust the people and trust the system.

Today, Zimbabweans are not arguing about religion. They are defending order and fairness. We are saying that rules must apply to everyone, including those at the top. Believers and non believers, rich and poor, ministers and street vendors, we are all bound by the same Constitution. If we allow anyone to rise above it, then we open the door to abuse for many years to come.

Some may say these words about God are harmless, just talk. But words shape actions. When leaders start talking about staying longer because of destiny or blessing, they are testing how far they can go. Silence from citizens becomes permission. That is why we must speak early and clearly. We must reject any move that weakens the Constitution, no matter how it is dressed.

Our country has suffered too much from leaders who change rules to suit themselves. We know the cost in lost jobs, poor hospitals, broken schools, and families forced to leave home to survive. We cannot accept another chapter of the same story, written with religious ink but carrying the same pain.

Respecting the Constitution is not hatred of anyone. It is love for the country. It is choosing peace over chaos and fairness over fear. It is protecting future generations from endless power struggles and broken promises. We must insist on elections that are free and fair, on leaders who come and go by law, and on institutions that work for the people.

Zimbabwe does not need chosen ones. It needs accountable servants. It needs leaders who know when to lead and when to leave. Above all, it needs citizens who refuse to be fooled by holy words used to defend illegal plans. The law must stand. The people must decide. And the Constitution must rule, today and always.