Tagwirei’s Influence Sparks Legal Complaint Over S...

Tagwirei’s Influence Sparks Legal Complaint Over SDA Pulpit Abuse

Audrey Galawu- Assistant Editor

A legal complaint filed by Advocate Thabani Mpofu has accused the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Zimbabwe of allowing businessman Kuda Tagwirei to politicise the church by turning its sacred pulpit into a platform for partisan campaigning.

The complaint, written by Mtetwa & Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, is addressed to the Executive Secretaries of the Zimbabwe East Union Conference and East Zimbabwe Conference. It centres on an incident that occurred on June 14, 2025, during a church-organised evangelical event dubbed Operation Macedonia, held in Nyanga.

According to the letter, SDA Elder ZANU PF politician Kudakwashe Tagwirei invited Minister of Sports and former Zimbabwe National Army commander, Anselem Sanyatwe to address the SDA congregation—without prior approval from church authorities. What followed has sparked national outrage within the SDA community.

“He indicated that ZANU PF would continue in government forever and likened any departure from that to donkeys growing horns,” reads the letter. “He made it clear that he had repeated the message even where the audience had not approved and that he did not see anything wrong with expressing the message before members of the SDA church on a Sabbath.”

The letter accuses church leaders present—Mr. Musara, President of ZEUC, and Mr. Timuri, President of EZC—of abdicating their responsibility by allowing the remarks to go unchallenged.

“Messrs Musara and Timuri showed no hesitation in offering the SDA pulpit to individuals pushing partisan political agendas. In doing so, they allowed Tagwirei to misuse the church’s platform and their moral authority to serve personal political goals,” the letter states.

“This was a blatant breach of the SID policy—one that was avoidable and unjustifiable. The church rejects any involvement in such activities, which go against its mission and values.”

The complaint further references several key SDA doctrines and internal policies that were allegedly violated:

SID Working Policy S 55 25: Prohibits unauthorised presentations or solicitations.

Use of the Pulpit: Requires written authorisation before anyone may speak from the pulpit.

HA 15 05 Biblical Perspectives: Clearly discourages involvement in political affairs.

C 55 10 Professional Ethics: Forbids church officials from using their positions to promote political or personal propaganda.

E 85 15 Conflict of Interest: Requires leaders to maintain neutrality in political matters.

The SDA Church Manual is also quoted directly in the letter to reinforce the seriousness of the breach. On page 118, the Manual states “The church does not permit any pastor, elder, or other individual to use the pulpit to promote or debate political issues.”

And again on page 120: “In view of these considerations, it is evident that the pulpit must be reserved for the preaching of the truths of the Divine Word and the presentation of denominational plans and policies for the advancement of the work of God, not personal views and opinions.”

The legal team representing Advocate Mpofu argues that by remaining silent and allowing Tagwirei-linked individuals to campaign in the church, SDA leadership failed to uphold the church’s spiritual integrity.

“Since the pulpit is not a platform for political debate, Musara and Timuri should never have allowed it to be used that way,” the letter continues.

“Having done so, they should now take responsibility and ensure corrective measures are taken.”

While Tagwirei is not formally mentioned as a speaker in the letter, sources within the church allege that the businessman is the architect behind the political encroachment. According to multiple congregants, Tagwirei has donated luxury vehicles and money to pastors and senior administrators in what some believe is a coordinated effort to buy influence within the church.

One church member who spoke to Zim Now on condition of anonymity said, “The pulpit has been captured. Our pastors are now answering to money, not God. The church leadership is watching the desecration happen and saying nothing.”

The legal complaint closes with a firm call for accountability and reform: “The ZEUC and EZC leadership must uphold the spiritual integrity of the church and take corrective action against the individuals who violated SDA doctrine and policy.”