By Sukoluhle Sibanda|Kariba based Pastor Patrick Mugadza spent the Christmas period season behind bars for protesting against President Robert Mugabe by simply telling him “the people are suffering”. The man who is due in court for the matter on Monday, has opened his heart to ZimEye.com on the burning reasons for his decision to stand out against Mugabe, chief of which is a family issue.
Below are excerpts of the interview.
Qn :Pastor Mugadza you staged an anti Mugabe protest early in December, and you were shut in the cells throughout the Christmas holiday. Are you still being pursued by the State?
Pastor Mugadza: Thank you so much for this opportunity. Yes I was arrested and put in jail because I could not pay the bail which was too much for me. Yes I am being pursued but maybe not in a very bad way. Just yesterday they were asking me a lot of questions but it was a very comfortable environment.
Qn : As a family man Sir, was it worth it to endure such humiliation? Do you not regret it all?
Pastor Mugadza : Being a father of wonderful boys, one who completed his “A”level in 2014 but I cannot send him to university: I was sick of being asked ‘dad when am I going to school?’ The way things are in the nation cannot allow me to send him to school so I thought solving the problem will be better than trying to work around it. It was worth it. Hope I answered you well.
I do not regret a bit of it because now I have an answer to my son that ‘as soon as our situation improves you will go to school son.’
Qn : Since you came out of the cells, do you now feel the President has heeded your calls?
Pastor Mugadza : Well that I would not tell but I will just hope that he did.
Qn : Two weeks ago you went to meet abducted activist Itai Dzamara’s family. As a clergyman, are you not scared you are dabbling in politics?
Pastor Mugadza : As a clergy man that is my area in which if I am not found to have done what I did I should be questioned why? The Bible tells me to cry with those who cry and that is what I did.
And besides I had home to ask the wife to forgive those who abducted her husband because this is what God wants of us to be doing as not doing that will mean God will not forgive our sins also.
Qn : What is your view on pastors participating in political expressions?
Pastor Mugadza : The word of God does not discourage pastors to be in politics? Zanu PF was lead if not founded by Rev Ndabaningi Sithole, the Bishop Abel Muzorewa am told had something to do with the release from prison of some of our nationalists and the first president of Zimbabwe was Rev Canaan Banana. So am so surprised as to where we got this assertion that pastors should not be in politics? The word of God tells us of Moses going Pharaoh to tell him to let the people of God go, Nathan told David what he had done was bad in taking another man’s wife, Elijah goes to Ahab to tell him there was not going to be any rains for three years until he said it and John the Baptist tells Herod not to take his brother’s wife.
Qn : Do you sense any hope regarding the Dzamara matter? Please explain your position.
Pastor Mugadza : I do believe that he could most likely be somewhere out there because there was no reason at all for him to be killed.
Qn : Lastly, please tell the rest of Zimbabweans what they need to do to make their lives better.
Pastor Mugadza : Ask and you shall be given the Bible says that. Ask for a government of Technocrats who will fix the national crisis and tell the leadership that we will forgive you for all you could have done and that if you step down now we will let you keep whatever you have for the sake of moving on and making our lives better and the lives of generations to come.
Qn : What help do you feel well wishers should offer you at present?
Pastor Mugadza : “Thank you again for this question. I have lined up activities which need funding. Even a big party like Zanu PF is funded by the government and other people as so the same thing with what am doing. I need your support seriously and I promise to be accountable to your generosity and will be giving you breakdown as of how I would have used the money. Right now I am going to Victoria Falls for the Monday trial and so there is an immediate need for transport and accommodation while am there.
Together we will make it because the time for Zimbabwe is now.
How bless you.”
TO DONATE TO Pastor Mugadza, send via Ecocash to : +263773727080