CHRISTIAN organisations in Bulawayo have called on parents to boycott sending their children to school today to force government to rescind its decision to roll out its proposed National Pledge programme, which they described as a violation to their freedom of worship.
BY SILAS NKALA
Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora has ordered all pupils to start reciting the National Pledge daily with effect from today, arguing the programme would help enforce a spirit of patriotism among young people.
Pupils in infant school will recite the following pledge: “Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies, I salute the national flag, I commit to honesty and dignity of hard work.”
Junior and secondary school pupils will recite: “Almighty God, in whose hands our future lies, I salute the national flag, respecting the brave fathers and mothers who lost lives in the Chimurenga/Umvukela.
“We are proud inheritors of the richness of our natural resources. We are proud creators and participants in our vibrant traditions and cultures. So, I commit to honesty and the dignity of hard work.”
Zimbabwe Christian Alliance director Reverend Useni Sibanda said for Christian community the decision to impose the National Pledge was unconstitutional and immoral.
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“We urge parents to stay away from school on the first day of the launch of the pledge since government has decided to force children to take the pledge,” Sibanda said.
“This violates the Bill of Rights section 60 under Freedom of Conscience, where the Constitution says no person shall be compelled to take a vow or oath by anyone or State which violates their conscience or religious beliefs.”
Sibanda said they were also saying the pledge has been reduced to a ritual by demanding that parents bring gifts with their children when taking the vow.
“This reduces it to a religious vow which we cannot allow our children to take. We call on all parents to ensure that their children boycott the pledge every morning,” he said.
“We are taking government on a class Constitutional challenge that involves parents, teachers, churches and faith-based organisations. Through Zimbabwe Christian Alliance and other church structures people and parents are being mobilised for prayer. We are also seeking for an urgent meeting with minister Lazarus Dokora in Bulawayo.”
Sibanda’s calls come in the wake of Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku’s dismissal of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights’ urgent interdict meant to compel the ministry to stop imposing the pledge on children. Chidyausiku directed the registrar of the Constitutional Court to set down the main challenge at an earliest convenient date.
The ruling gave the ministry the green light to implement the programme until the main challenge has been brought to court.
