Politicians Should Emulate Jesus in Leadership Regardless of Background: Zimbabwean Priest

“The moment politicians glorify the negative tendencies and behaviors associated with their political privileges, then there is a serious need for introspection and reconsideration about one’s role with respect to blessing,” he said.

He continued in reference to St. Luke’s gospel, “My humble submission is that there is need to consider whether to bless or to seek God’s mercy.”

The member of the Clergy of Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo Archdiocese said that awareness and acknowledgment of one's weakness is a sign of holiness in itself. He added that dispensing divine blessings from a point of view of worthiness is equally a sign of holiness.

He further said, “Showing off or using the name of God in vain is sacrilegious and scandalous.”

Citing the words of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who he said was not even a Christian but a modern prophet popularly voted the most influential person of the 20th century, Fr. Ndlovu underscored the need for politicians to examine their moral standards or the words of Jesus Christ.

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“As soon as we lose our moral foundation, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. We cannot be untruthful and claim to have God on our side,” the Catholic Priest said in his April 26 reflection.

“Once the salt loses its saltiness in the leadership arena in general, and in particular in public office, the noblest decision to take is to step aside and bear consequences of one’s actions or inactions as attested to by Thomas Bivins in his article entitled Responsibility and Accountability,” he said.

In a report published last year by ACI Africa, Fr. Ndlovu cautioned politicians in African countries against manipulating the masses for their own selfish gains and encouraged inclusivity in politics in order to realize development.

“There is no need to enter the political space so as to manipulate systems of governance for purposes of self-aggrandizement. Rather the reason should be for enhancing, defending the basic fundamental human rights and freedoms of citizens,” he said.

The Zimbabwean Catholic Priest called upon those in positions of leadership to serve and not to be masters who capitalize on the misery of the poor and undermine the essential welfare of the citizens. 

In the 23 February 2021 report, Fr. Ndlovu said that leadership with impunity will make Africa “a laughing stock among other nations of the world for under-developing itself.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.