WITH most churches angry with Primary and Education Ministry’s directive for pupils to recite the recently introduced national pledge, the Vapostori say the move was the best way to instil discipline in children.

The national pledge is part of the newly introduced curriculum and forces primary and secondary school children to swear their allegiance to government, Zanu PF heroes and the liberation struggle which brought Zimbabwe’s independence.

The introduction of the pledge was followed by the ban on Scripture Union activities which Minister Lazarus Dokora said contradicted the spirit of the new curriculum which emphasises on ‘national pride’.

Controversial Archbishop Johannes Ndanga said his Apostolic Christian Council (ACP) fully supports the national pledge as it promotes “patriotism”.

Ndanga claims that his church has about 1200 church branches. “As Apostolic Christian Church we are fully behind the national pledge and see nothing wrong with it as it upholds the Zimbabwean identity,” Ndanga told a stakeholders meeting in Harare Saturday.

“It reminds and teaches the children of Zimbabwe their history and it motivates people to cherish their country,” he added.

Ndanga’s comments come after the Evangelical Fellowship Church of Zimbabwe (EFZ) and the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denomination (ZHCD) said they were seeking a meeting with the ministry officials to discuss the concerns around the national pledge.

In the same meeting, EFZ and ZHCD officials called for wisdom in the building of a united nation and the development of the education sector.

Last month, some parents took the Government, Education Minister and some Headmasters to the Constitutional Court seeking an order stopping the national pledge policy arguing that it violates their children’s rights as it was in fact a prayer.

The vapostori have been previously been accused of denying their children access to education and medical treatment.