Churches in Zimbabwe’s Mudzi district were told to suspend worship services on Sunday, March 29, and attend a ruling ZANU-PF political rally, placing them at the center of a growing political storm.
The instruction, contained in a letter dated March 25 and addressed to local pastors, called on churches to cancel services so congregants could participate in a party meeting at Kotwa High School.
“In light of this important meeting, you are kindly encouraged to suspend church service on that day to allow congregants to attend,” the letter stated.
In a formal statement dated March 28, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches issued a direct response.
“The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) expresses its deep concern, strong displeasure and profound dismay at a communication issued in Mudzi District… encouraging churches to suspend worship services… to attend a political party meeting.”
“This development is unacceptable and a direct affront to religious freedom, particularly as it coincides with Palm Sunday… the most solemn and spiritually important season for Christians worldwide.”
The council said the Church exists as a sacred place for worship, spiritual growth and moral guidance, and should never be placed under partisan political influence. It added that any effort to disrupt or interfere with church life threatens both religious freedom and the dignity of citizens.
The council also pointed to Section 60 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, emphasizing that freedom of conscience, religion and belief is a fundamental right that must be protected at all times without exception.
“We therefore encourage all Christians to continue to observe Palm Sunday and Holy Week faithfully, without fear or intimidation,” their statement concluded.
The rally was part of an ongoing campaign to build support for Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, a controversial proposal that has triggered widespread concern among church leaders and civil society groups.
Reports indicate the proposed legislation could extend presidential and parliamentary terms, delay elections, and reshape how leaders are chosen.
For many believers, the timing of the directive was especially troubling. The affected Sunday coincided with Palm Sunday, a central moment in the Christian calendar marking the beginning of Holy Week.
The disruption of worship on such a significant day has raised deep concerns about religious freedom and the relationship between church and state in Zimbabwe.
The incident in Mudzi does not stand alone. It unfolds against a broader national debate over constitutional changes that church leaders have already warned could alter Zimbabwe’s democratic foundations.
Earlier in March, a coalition of Christian bodies under the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations issued a strong warning about the proposed amendment.
“The proposed constitutional amendments raise serious concerns about the protection of democratic principles and the will of the people,” the church leaders said in a pastoral statement.
They cautioned that the reforms could weaken accountability and reduce citizen participation, particularly if changes affect how presidents are elected and how long they remain in office.
“Parliament is a sacred trust intended to serve the collective good of the nation,” the statement said. “It must not become an instrument for extending political power.”
The proposed bill includes provisions that would shift presidential elections from a direct public vote to a parliamentary process and extend the election cycle from five years to seven. Church leaders warned that such changes risk undermining the principle that political authority flows from the people.
“The constitution is the people’s covenant,” the statement said. “Any amendments must reflect the will of the citizens.”
These concerns have intensified in recent days as political mobilization efforts have reached into spaces traditionally reserved for worship and spiritual life.
For many Christians in Zimbabwe, the reported instruction to halt church services represents more than a logistical disruption. It is seen as a direct challenge to the independence of the church and the sanctity of worship.
The church has historically played a significant role in Zimbabwe’s public life, including during the formation of the 2013 Constitution, which emphasized fundamental rights and democratic governance.
That history has shaped the current response, with religious leaders framing the issue not only as political, but as moral and spiritual.
The attempt to redirect worshippers from church gatherings to a political rally has been widely interpreted as an encroachment into sacred space.
As Zimbabwe debates constitutional reform, the events in Mudzi have sharpened a more urgent question about the limits of political power and the protection of religious freedom.
