By Brendon Tulani 

HARARE – A newly elected Zimbabwean Member of Parliament says President Robert Mugabe was God-sent and should not be challenged in next year’s watershed polls. 

Kudakwashe Killion Gwanetsa, ruling ZANU PF MP for Chiredzi South, deified Mugabe as the leader chosen by God who should not be contested. 

Quoting Romans 13 in the Bible that encourages people to subject themselves to the governing authorities, the retired army brigadier general said only those involved in illegal activities were opposed to Mugabe’s rule. 

“For there is no authority except from God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad,” Gwanetsa said in his maiden speech in parliament yesterday. 

Gwanetsa, who was controversially nominated the ruling ZANU PF candidate amid resistance from the predominantly Shangaani people in Chiredzi South, provoked howls of disapproval from opposition MPs when he praised Mugabe's defiance of the West. 

The long-serving Zimbabwean leader is a vocal critic of Britain and her allies whom he accuses of leading a campaign to remove him from power. 

The West in turn blames Mugabe for ruining the once prosperous economy and of repression of opposition. 

The third session of the fifth Parliament of Zimbabwe, which commenced sitting on Tuesday, is expected to debate radical plans to nationalise foreign firms and a law empowering the house to name Mugabe’s successor without a national vote. 

Leader of the House of Assembly and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa could not confirm when the constitutional Bill will be debated. 

"I cannot discuss a date. Just keep coming to Parliament," Chinamasa said. - ZimOnline