Churches in Zimbabwe have demanded that President Robert Mugabe (92) apologise to the country’s judiciary for his criticism of courts for ruling in favour of opposition parties seeking required legal authority to demonstrate.

Addressing a press conference convened in Harare by church organisations in the country on Friday, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya of Grace Ablaze Ministries International said bold decisions taken by judges were a “turning point” in the administration of justice in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe, who has been in power for more than 36 years, last week lashed out at judges accusing them of siding with opposition political parties by passing judgments allowing them to stage demonstrations – this after police had banned them.

In recent weeks Zimbabwe has been rocked by frequent protests over cash shortages, bond notes, delayed salaries, the economic melt down, electoral reforms and Mugabe’s stay in power.

However, the nonagenarian claimed the judges were part of a larger Western sponsored plot to dislodge former liberation movements in Southern Africa and replace them with their puppets.

Bishop Magaya said: “We also demand a retraction and apology from the president for maligning our courts and the judges thereof. People are not protesting out of pleasure or for the sake of it, the nation is under siege and the economy has crumbled”.

He expressed hope that the judiciary would not cower to political pressure and that judges would continue to uphold the constitution in the discharge of their duties.

Magaya urged Zimbabweans to continue demonstrating in a non-violent manner, adding the church would not sit and watch while the government trampled on the rights of citizens.

He said the police had no right in a democratic country to revoke people’s rights and liberties.

“This is a clear indication that we are now going back to a state of emergency and barbaric instruments of oppression that should never be heard of in an independent Zimbabwe,” said Magaya.

“We have made reference at some point during the liberation struggle that the church is always known to be on the side of the masses and in the same manner, we will be on the people’s side against this tyrannical government.

“As a church which supported the struggle for human rights and independence then, we condemn in the strongest terms the feeble attempt by the police, the Ministry of Home Affairs and President Mugabe to curtail people’s God-given freedoms.”

Reverend Clement Zenda of Christian Voice International Zimbabwe said the church could not partner with the government in “committing crimes against humanity”.

He said the Bible talks about submitting to authorities and not individuals, adding that Mugabe could not muzzle the church as it was the mother of society.

“We should dictate to him not him dictating to us. He is going against the law and as a church we will submit to the law not to a party. We will submit to the Constitution,” he said.

Zanu PF, led by Mugabe, has been the ruling party in Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

Pastor Hussain Sibanda predicted more civil disobedience if the government continues to use the state security apparatus to silence dissenting voices.

“If citizens continue to face brutal reaction from the government, the situation will be volatile and there is likely to be more violence because of the violent nature of the police,” Sibanda said.