HARARE - Churches in Zimbabwe have resolved to endorse the new draft constitution crafted by a committee of Parliament commonly referred to as Copac and set for a referendum this weekend.

Following a series of meetings in Harare and Bulawayo, the heads of Christian denominations, a grouping of church leaders across the country, decided to vote for the adoption of the draft.

In a statement, the group said it will continue to engage political leaders in efforts to revisit areas it has misgivings on.

“While this process was characterised by many questions, challenges and controversies, it presented a milestone in the history of Zimbabwe and a unique opportunity to bring the nation together to forge a common future.

“The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations have long held the position contained in the Zimbabwe We Want Vision document that states ‘a people-centred and people-crafted constitution is the centrepiece of governance and development’,” reads the statement.

It added that the current Lancaster House Constitution was “not inspired by the collective consent and consensus of the people of Zimbabwe.

The absence of a home-grown Constitution remains a source of dissatisfaction. Governance by consent and consensus is the key to peace, stability, social and economic development.”

The Christian leaders said they presented Copac with 24 issues and although happy that the majority of these were adopted, issues to do with homosexuality and abortion were not comprehensively dealt with in the draft.

They added that churches would seek amendments to ensure the constitution protects from conception the life and rights of the unborn child.

Pertaining to homosexuality, the church leaders are demanding that the constitution reflects that “every person shall have the right to marry and found a family, in accordance with legislation that governs civil law marriages or customary law unions. A family shall be founded by two persons of the opposite sex”.