Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe president Amon Dubie Madawo has insisted the church is politically neutral following backlash from members over his public show of support for ZANU PF. Earlier this month, Madawo sparked controversy after openly backing the ruling party and praising President Emmerson Mnangagwa. While he stopped short of calling for a […]
Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe president Amon Dubie Madawo has insisted the church is politically neutral following backlash from members over his public show of support for ZANU PF.
Earlier this month, Madawo sparked controversy after openly backing the ruling party and praising President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
While he stopped short of calling for a lifetime presidency for Mnangagwa, he was effusive in his praise for the ZANU PF leader following his financial and material contributions to the AFM.
Mnangagwa reportedly contributed US$304,000 to the construction of the AFM church in Norton, which began in 2002 but had stalled before his intervention.
At the church’s official opening, Mnangagwa handed over a new 30-seater bus to the assembly and vehicles for its outreach programmes.
In June this year, the President also gave Madawo a personal gift — a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series ZX.
Speaking at a recent conference in Masvingo, Madawo said the church does not align itself with any political ambitions.
“AFM is a spiritual non-partisan church composed of people of different cultures from different regions and tribes. Our approach is non-political, very spiritual, evangelical and pentecostal,” said Madawo.
Madawo leads one of the two AFMs formed after the church split, which stemmed from a power struggle with Cossam Chiyangwa, who now heads a splinter group.
“AFM in Zimbabwe complements the government’s efforts. We do not view government as the adversary of the church. We see the government as a partner in improving people’s lives,” added Madawo.
At the conference, Mnangagwa offered an additional 50 hectares of land to AFM, adjacent to the Rufaro Conference Centre in Chatsworth, Gutu, for the development of the church’s first university.
He was represented by ZANU PF national chairman and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
Several churches, including AFM, have received cash and other material gifts from people closely associated with ZANU PF in recent years.
Critics say the gifts are effectively bribes meant to silence church leaders so that they “see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil”.
Those who have received the gifts have avoided speaking out against the alleged arbitrary arrests of opposition activists and failures by public officials, such as the recent boat accident on Lake Kariba that claimed 97 lives.
