Zimbabwe Government Orders Churches Shut on Palm Sunday to Force Attendance at Political Rally

Zimbabwe's Ruling Party Orders Churches to Cancel Palm Sunday Services for Political Rally

Churches across Zimbabwe's Mudzi district in Mashonaland East province were ordered to suspend worship services on March 29, 2026, and redirect their congregations to a ZANU PF political rally at Kotwa High School.

A letter dated March 25, addressed to local pastors, stated: "In light of this important meeting, you are kindly encouraged to suspend church service on that day to allow congregants to attend." The rally was organized to promote Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, a sweeping legislative proposal backed by the ruling party.

The directive proved especially provocative because March 29 fell on Palm Sunday, one of the most sacred days in the Christian calendar, marking the beginning of Holy Week. Sources report that ZANU PF officials threatened unspecified action against any church leader who defied the order.

The rally was to be addressed by Mashonaland East Provincial Chairman Daniel Garwe, who also serves as the Local Government minister. The Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 proposes extending presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, suspending the 2028 elections, and replacing direct presidential elections with a parliamentary voting system, effectively allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in power beyond his constitutional limit.

The Church exists as a sacred place for worship, spiritual growth and moral guidance. We condemn any attempt to subject the Church to partisan political influence.

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches responded with a forceful statement on March 28, calling the move "unacceptable and a direct affront to religious freedom." The council cited Section 60 of Zimbabwe's Constitution, which protects "freedom of conscience, religion and belief," calling these rights "fundamental, inviolable, and must be upheld without exception."

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations had already warned earlier in March that the proposed constitutional amendments could "weaken accountability and reduce citizen participation."

ZANU PF Forces Zimbabwean Christians to Choose Between Worship and Political Obedience

The incident has sparked outrage among worshippers and opposition parties, who accuse the ruling party of intimidating citizens and suppressing their constitutional rights to consolidate power.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let this sink in: a government ordering Christians to close their church doors on Palm Sunday so they can attend a political rally to rubber stamp a dictator's power grab. This is not subtle persecution. This is a government telling the Body of Christ, "Our power matters more than your Savior." ZANU PF did not ask. They threatened. They demanded. And they chose Palm Sunday deliberately, the very day we remember our King entering Jerusalem, to remind Zimbabwean Christians who they believe the real king is. If a Christian government shut down mosques during Ramadan to force attendance at a political rally, every headline in the world would scream tyranny. Where is that same outrage now? The silence is deafening. Pray for Zimbabwe. Pray for the pastors who stood firm. And never forget: when the state tells you when and where you can worship, you are no longer free.

Take Action

• Pray specifically for pastors in Mudzi district who face threats for refusing to comply with ZANU PF orders. Lift them up by name in your prayer groups.
• Contact the Zimbabwean Embassy in your country and express concern about violations of religious freedom. In the US, reach the Embassy at (202) 332 7100.
• Support the Zimbabwe Council of Churches in their stand for religious liberty. Learn more at www.zcc.co.zw.
• Donate to organizations defending persecuted Christians in Africa, including Open Doors, Voice of the Martyrs, and The Shepherd's Shield.
• Share this story on social media. Tag your elected officials and demand they speak out against the suppression of Christian worship in Zimbabwe.