Harare, Zimbabwe - THE resolution by Apostolic and Zionist churches to abolish polygamy has been greeted by many Pentecostal pastors as bold stride to- wards thwarting the further spread of HIV and Aids.
Polygamy, which has been blamed for fuelling the spread of HIV and Aids, has been prevalent in Apostolic faith sects.
In separate interviews, several Pentecostal pastors yesterday hailed the resolution by the Union for Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (UDACIZA) for setting up programmes aimed at transforming the Apostolic sect into an entity that is compatible with the present health situation.
Pastor Emmanuel Singano from Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe (PAOZ) said the Apostolic and Zionist churches had been running away from the truth in the Bible that a man should have only one wife.
"I hailed the new decision by these churches to ban polygamy because the Bible itself says every man should have his own wife.
"This is also going to reduce the spread of the devastating HIV and Aids because you can see that if a man has got five wives and one gets infected, that means all the remaining four also risk being infected," said Pastor Singano.
Another pastor from Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) said if this issue of polygamy has been abolished from these Apostolic sects, it is going to reduce the spread of many diseases.
He said polygamy was not a church doctrine or constitution but it is someone's decision when he found that he needed another wife.
He quoted the verse in the Bible in Malachi 2 verse 15, which says: "Didn't God make you one body and spirit with her? What was his purpose in this? It was that you should have children who are truly God's people. So make sure that none of you breaks his promise to his wife."
"The ban of polygamy and early marriages is very good because young girls were forced into marriage at tender ages," said Pastor Mubingi.
UDACIZA was formed in response to the need for independent churches in Zimbabwe to address national development issues, eradication of ignorance, alleviation of poverty and most importantly the prevention of HIV and Aids among members and the nation at large.