adminTHE presence of an America-based Israeli religious group, Jewish Voice Ministries International and their doctors without boundaries in Mberengwa led by Rabbi Jonathan Benis has raised a lot of eyebrows with many suspecting that they had ulterior motives.
The church is based at Mposi Clinic and has so far assisted over 5 000 villagers suffering from different ailments offering them free medication and treatment by doctors.
One of the members of the church’s board of directors, Mr Roger William West, has mining interests and has since signed three contracts with a local tantalite mining company and established his own mining company called United Stars which is interested in mineral deposits in Mberengwa.
The company has set up a small-scale tantalite mine in Ward 15 in Mberengwa North called Rebecca Mine United Stars.
Mr West, however, claims that his mining activities were parallel to the church business.
“God has led me to Zimbabwe and I am a Christian businessman. In all my mining activities I have complied with the Government indigenisation and empowerment policies and I have ceded 51 percent shares to locals.
“My aim is to create employment in Mberengwa. I have partnered with a tantalite mining company in Harare in three different projects,” said Mr West.
Rabbi Benis concurred that Mr West’s mining activities were not part and parcel of the church operation in the country.
He said he had come to Mberengwa to assist people particularly of the Lemba tribe whose genealogy could be traced back to Israel.
Rabbi Benis is moving with a delegation of about 50 doctors from America, England and Ethiopia among other countries.
“We did this last year during the same time and we are back again this year to assist people. We are going to give medical assistance to people in Mberengwa, Gutu and Buhera.
“We have used over $400 000 to assist people in Zimbabwe. We are only operating in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia in Africa and we are setting up a church or a Jewish prayer centre in Mberengwa for the Lemba tribe. Mr West is the one interested in mining but as the church his mining endeavours are parallel to what we are doing as the church. He can answer for himself because his business is not part of the church,” he said.
Online Reporter