Political parties have turned churches into new battlegrounds, but then churches beware for some of these people who are wooing you are tainted individuals whose hands drip with the blood of innocent souls killed in the endless pursuit of power and its retention.

Hardly a week passes without one of our major political parties targeting the church, something that is likely to gain momentum as the country hurtles towards crucial polls due this year.

Although dates for polls are still to be announced President Robert Mugabe and his political rival turned ally Prime Minister Morgan are not wasting any time.

Zanu PF has rolled out an intensive campaign system that has seen party heavyweights such as Didymus Mutasa and deputy president Joice Mujuru dine with church leaders.

Perhaps dazed by political power, patronage and promises of a better tomorrow, if Zanu PF wins the winners take all elections—church leaders like Johannes Ndanga have been nothing short of fluttering.

Hymns have been basterdized to fit Zanu PF profile and Mugabe whose second name is Gabriel has now pages of song dedicated to him.

Frivolous or not, only the religious leaders know, but for many church leaders, whose rags-to-riches tale is all captivating, there is a method to the madness.

Aware of the strenuous times that many sect leaders endure, Zanu PF which still has control of diesel ministries like that of land, has been parceling out stands to the desperate church leaders, who have been corrupted and are now willing appendages of the former guerrilla movement, that is accused worldwide for its brutality to its own citizenry during the Gurkurahundi atrocities of the 1980s and beyond.

Perhaps the church forget too soon, that so much blood in so young Zimbabwe was spilled by the same politicians who now beeline and wax lyrical all in an effort to curry favour with their followers.

I am not anti-Zanu PF, but when it is winter time I am reminded of the brutal actions meted on a hapless populace by President Mugabe and his security sector who puzzlingly and without shame expect the same people to give them the crucial vote.

Houses were destroyed during operation Murambatsvina (Drive Out Trash) in 2005 and in the previous elections in 2008 scores of people were killed—in all cases accusing fingers point to Zanu PF.

Yes, there is nothing wrong with political parties seeking more power, but church leaders should be wary of the past actions of these people.

Politics is a dirty game they say and in Zimbabwe it will only get murkier when the church is sucked in the pursuit for power.

Church leaders whenever they host our politicians should have the guts to spit it out and demand respect for human rights and dignity.

Instead of being dazed to the point of idiocy church should stand ground and be the bridge that will heal wounds for thousands of people who have been victims of the vicious political cycle that is renowned for its violence since independence in 1980.