When the Church Aligns Itself with Oppressive Power

 By: Anonymous Elder

 8^th August 2026

When a church leader openly declares allegiance to an oppressive government, the consequences extend
far beyond the individual leader. The congregation and, ultimately, the wider nation can suffer when the Church abandons its prophetic responsibility and becomes aligned with the very structures that oppress people. 

The Church’s primary allegiance must be to Christ. Its calling is not to legitimise political power, but to proclaim truth, defend human dignity, pursue justice, show mercy and provide refuge to those who are vulnerable and oppressed.

When a church leader places political allegiance above Christ-centred leadership, the Church risks losing its prophetic voice. Instead of speaking truth to power, it may become an instrument through which oppressive and exploitative power is legitimised. Those who are suffering may then become afraid to speak, knowing that the institution from which they expected compassion and protection has aligned itself with those causing their suffering.

The Church must be a place where the wounded can find refuge, where the oppressed can find a voice, where truth can be spoken without fear, and where every person is treated with dignity. This does not mean that the Church must be politically neutral or that Christians cannot participate in government or support particular political positions. Rather, it means that no political authority should receive an allegiance that competes with allegiance to Christ.

When political power demands silence in the face of injustice, the Church must choose truth. When government becomes oppressive, the Church must remain a refuge for those who suffer. And when leaders become all too powerful, the Church must retain the courage to remind them that earthly authority is neither absolute nor eternal.

A Christ-centred Church does not ask first, “Which political side am I on?” It asks, “What does faithfulness to Christ require of me in the presence of power, injustice and human suffering?”

That is where the Church’s prophetic calling begins.

This is true of the Church in Zimbabwe as of the Church in the rest of the world.

About the author
Anonymous Elder is a human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. He/she has requested anonymity for now. Any inquiries regarding this article should be sent via email to humanright@rohr-zimbabwe.org

MY STORY - THE PRICE OF SURVIVAL IN ZIMBABWE

By: [Chiedza Kambari], Deputy Organising Secretary – Midlands Branch, ROHR Zimbabwe

31^st July 2026

My father held a diploma in Business Management, a qualification that should have opened doors, that should have given our family dignity and stability. Instead, he sat at home for ten long years: skilled, educated, and willing to work, yet unable to find a single job anywhere.

I will never forget 2008. We had gone three days without a single meal. Desperate to keep us alive, my father walked all the way from Marondera to Harare miles and miles on foot, just to beg for help from relatives. He came back with a little money someone had given him, bought a small sack of mealie meal, and for the first time in days, we had something to eat. Not long after, he was called to work as a teacher. We thought things would finally get better. But every month, his salary was so small it could not even cover the bus fare to Harare, let alone feed and clothe us properly. Life stayed hard, year after year.

When the unity government was formed, we dared to hope. We celebrated, believing things would change, that jobs would return, that food would be affordable, that suffering families like ours would finally breathe easier. But today? Things are far worse than they ever were.

To ZANU-PF: we ask you, please have mercy on your people. See the hunger, see the wasted skills, see the parents walking miles on foot just to feed their children. We are not asking for special treatment, we are asking for a country where hard work is rewarded, where education counts for something, and where no one has to choose between starving and suffering.

My father’s story is not unique. It is the story of millions: educated people forgotten, hard work unrewarded, hope slowly starved away while a few live in plenty. This is not the future we dreamed of. And until we build a nation that truly cares for every one of its citizens, we will not stay silent.

About the author
Chiedza Kambari is a human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is the Deputy Organising Secretary of the Midlands Branch of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe.  She can be contacted by email at kambarichiedza@gmail.com OR at Chiedza.kambari@rohr-zimbabwe.org

Zimbabwe’s Shrinking Democratic Space: Why I Oppose the Patriotic Act, CAA#3, Abductions and Corruption

By Samuel Jambaya

21^st July 2026

Zimbabwe stands at a critical moment in its history. Ideally, a people who fought hard and made huge sacrifices for freedom should never live in fear of speaking their minds. Yet political repression, abductions, arbitrary arrests, and repressive laws are steadily eroding the country’s democratic values.

Among the laws that I strongly oppose is the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Amendment Bill (commonly referred to as "The Patriotic Act”, which was signed into law by the Zimbabwean President on July 14, 2023. I believe it threatens freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right of every Zimbabwean to participate in democratic debate without fear of punishment. This law discourages citizens, journalists, activists, and opposition members from exercising their constitutional rights and expressing differing political opinions.

I also hate the Constitution Amendment Act #3 (CAA#3), which was signed into law on 7 July 2026. It robs the citizens of their right to vote for the President. It promotes corruption in that a president can easily buy the few hundreds of MPs to get their vote and then preside over a country of more than six million citizens of voting age.

I also hate state-sponsored human rights violations including abductions, torture, murders and enforced disappearances.

Some of the prominent cases are that of Tonderai Ndira, who was abducted and later killed in 2008, Itai Dzamara, who disappeared in 2015 and remains missing, and Tawanda Muchehiwa, who was abducted in 2020 and later released after being tortured. These cases have become symbols for many Zimbabweans who believe justice and accountability remain incomplete.

When citizens live in fear of being abducted, arrested, tortured, killed or intimidated because of their political beliefs, democracy itself is weakened. A government should protect the rights of its people, not create an environment where fear replaces freedom.

Corruption is yet another blight wrought by Emmerson Mnangagwa, his cronies and ZANU-PF. These few people have milked the country to its knees; little wonder they are changing the constitution to lengthen their term of office so that they avoid prosecution whilst they work out how to establish a Mnangagwa dynasty.

We continue to question why allegations raised in the internationally publicised Gold Mafia investigation have not resulted in transparent accountability. The documentary unearthed extensive gold smuggling, money laundering and corruption involving the first family and individuals connected to powerful interests.

The “Gold Mafia” is an example of how Zimbabwe’s natural resources are enriching a privileged few while millions of ordinary citizens struggle with unemployment, poor healthcare, inadequate education, collapsing infrastructure and persistent poverty.

Zimbabwe is richly endowed with gold, diamonds, platinum and other valuable resources. These resources should improve hospitals, schools, roads, clean water supplies and employment opportunities. Instead, many citizens see little benefit while corruption allegations continue to dominate public discussion.

The negative consequences of restrictive laws, political intimidation and unmitigated corruption discourage investment, weaken democratic institutions, reduce public confidence in government, encourage skilled professionals to leave the country and limit citizens’ willingness to participate freely in national affairs.

Zimbabwe deserves better. It deserves leaders who respect the Constitution, uphold the rule of law, protect human rights, investigate corruption without fear or favour, and ensure that national wealth benefits every citizen rather than a privileged minority.

As a Zimbabwean, I believe that patriotism means defending justice, accountability, democracy and the rights of every citizen—not remaining silent in the face of injustice. A prosperous Zimbabwe can only be built on transparency, respect for human rights and equal justice under the law.

About the author: -
Samuel Jambaya is a Zimbabwean human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. He is a member of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe, and is also active with the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF). He can be contacted via email at jomueljambaya@gmail.com.

 

In the Face of CAA3, We Are Down but Not Out

By Genius Khatazile Mamwadhu

19^th July 2026

As a community of human rights activists representing the ordinary Zimbabwean citizen, we put up a strong and spirited fight against Constitution Amendment Bill # 3 (CAB 3), from the time it was first whispered in ZANU-PF circles to its enactment on 7 July 2026.

It was never going to be easy to prevail against the machinations of a dictator determined to establish a dynasty, shield himself from possible future prosecution for his role in the Gukurahundi genocide, and evade accountability for the many atrocities committed by ZANU-PF and state machinery at his behest over four decades—not to mention the desire to protect what he looted from Zimbabwe’s resources.

Emmerson Mnangagwa deliberately avoided a referendum on a matter of great national importance and has instead forced his way forward, using looted national resources to buy the support of Members of Parliament.

He has also bought off most social influencers and anyone he believed might stand in his way as he marches toward crowning himself the “King of Zimbabwe.”

He also deployed State machinery to crush dissent. The CIO ensured that attempts to mobilise against CAB 3 were suppressed, and leading voices were hounded into silence. Some were abducted and tortured, some were incarcerated, and others were driven into exile.

The police stood ready with baton sticks and tear gas, while army tanks were visibly positioned to send a clear warning: citizens should think twice before taking to the streets.

The memories of the killings of unarmed protesters in January and August 2018 remain fresh, and the sight of army tanks stationed in strategic positions across the country is deterrent enough.

We must therefore acknowledge that we lost this battle, and that is deeply painful.

However, we will continue to fight the Mnangagwa regime until we overturn CAA 3 and all the unjust, repressive laws the regime has enacted.

We are back to the drawing board.

We are down, but not out.

About the author: -
Genius Khatazile Mamwadhu is a Zimbabwean human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. He is a member of the UK Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO) and is also active with the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF). He can be contacted via email at mamwadhukhatazile@gmail.com.