The Religious Liberty Festival, hosted in Victoria Falls by the Seventh-day Adventist Church through its Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) department, marked a historic milestone in Zimbabwe’s faith landscape as the country’s first formal interfaith religious liberty gathering.

The event brought together diverse religious communities, creating a rare protected space for dialogue, reflection, and mutual respect. It was significantly endorsed by the presence of the speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, who served as one of the key speakers.

In his address, the speaker emphasized that the Constitution of Zimbabwe affirms the oneness of the nation, regardless of religious differences, and firmly safeguards religious liberty for all citizens. He drew attention to Section 58 of the Constitution, underscoring the right to freedom of assembly and association.

The event was preceded by a drill and marching exhibition led by Pathfinders, youth, and church members, which moved through the city as a public awareness campaign on interfaith harmony and religious liberty. The coordinated march drew the attention of residents and visitors alike, visually reinforcing the message that freedom of belief, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect are shared national values.

The program also featured a prayer for peaceful co-existence, an address on threats to Religious Liberty in Africa, and an insightful session on financial freedom facilitated by Dr. Mlambo, broadening the conversation beyond worship rights to include social stability and economic empowerment.

Church leaders in the region believe the event demonstrated how the Church can engage government, civil society, and other faiths without diluting its beliefs. Dialogue was used not to negotiate doctrine, but to create mutual understanding and protect space for mission.

By addressing peace, legal rights, financial freedom, and environmental stewardship, the Church affirmed its holistic view of salvation, concerned with spiritual, social, economic, and moral well-being.

This article was provided by the Zimbabwe West Union located within the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division.