IS Christianity the most practised religion in Zimbabwe? If so, does that make Zimbabwe a Christian nation? Should Zimbabwe be declared a Christian nation in the new co stitution or should any other religion be adopted as a state religion?

The impetus to contribute on this topic came when I was going through the Kariba draft constitution. So far it is the only constitutional document that has a clause asserting a religious belief.

Both the NCA and the Chidyausiku draft constitutions have no clauses linking the state to a particular religion directly or indirectly. The preamble to the Kariba draft opens by stating, "We acknowledge the supremacy of the Lord". Inevitably such a constitutional provision is bound to raise controversy and is subject to different legal and theological interpretations and implications. In this discussion the word Lord is applied as referring to the Christian God.

The current Zimbabwean constitution does not proclaim 'the supremacy of the lord' anywhere; neither does it attempt to link a particular religion to the state of Zimbabwe. Reference to God is found only in the Oath of loyalty with the words 'So help me God'. The oath is taken by senior public officials when taking office and is only an oath of allegiance. It is not compulsory to pronounce 'So help me God' as it is only taken in affirmation.

However aspects of the Christian religion are evident in the sphere of Zimbabwean public life In our courts of law before giving evidence witnesses are required to swear by the Bible the truthness of their account.

Prominent Christian festivals, Easter and Christmas, are public holidays in Zimbabwe, even though the holidays are better known for social pleasure than the celebration of a religious event .In most schools Bible Knowledge has been a common subject nationwide but its importance has been greatly reduced, with some schools actually scrapping it. On most funeral occasions church leaders preside over the burial of the deceased, just as most do on weddings and marriages.

Archbishop Chakaipa presided over President Mugabe's first inauguration as Prime Minister in 1980 aswell as over his wedding to Grace Marufu in 1997. However the absence of official prayers and other religious procedures and leadership at any official government function or meetings points to the fact that religion is not integral to the function of the establishment.Historical facts point to the fact that before the arrival of the colonialists, present day Zimbabwe practised some form of traditional worshipping, with emphasis on spirit mediums.

Christianity was brought about by early missionaries. There is not much written about the role played by main wing Christian establishments during Zimbabwe's struggle for indepedence. In contrast, reference is made of the role of spirit mediums, notably Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi, and roles played by traditional chiefs like Chief Rekai Tangwena.This does not mean though that religious leaders did not offer any form of support leading to the birth of Zimbabwe. Abel Muzorewa, Rev Ndabaningi Sithole were appointed to lead the struggle when nationalist leaders were incarcarated.

Mugabe himself benefited through the works of Fathers Dieter Scholz,Emmanuel Ribero and Sister Mary Acquina who were sympathetic to the nationalist cause. They would eventually also help him to hide and later cross into Mozambique.

Answering the first question in my introduction, it could be very true that Christianity is the dominant religion in Zimbabwe. That fact however does not in itselfqualify Zimbabwe as a Christian nation. Neither does the inclusion of the proclamation of the supremacy of the Lord in the Kariba draft. To have a nation founded in a particular religion means that particular religion is the primary and probably the sole basis upon which a national government exists and is structured.