Assist in fighting poverty, churches urged

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Reporter
BULAWAYO’s Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Nomthandazo Eunice Sandi-Moyo has urged churches to complement government efforts in fighting poverty through self-help projects.

Addressing thousands of congregants gathered at the 60th Anniversary commemorations of the Apostolic Faith Church in Bulawayo’s Pelandaba suburb on Saturday, Sandi-Moyo said the church plays a crucial role in uplifting people’s lives through income generating projects.

“The government through the leadership of President Mugabe has made great strides in uplifting the lives of our people through the introduction of vocational training centres to empower our people, especially youths, with technical skills. We, however, urge churches to also complement those efforts by introducing self-help projects and economically empower our people,” said Sandi-Moyo.

She singled out the founder of the Apostolic Faith Church, the late Reverend Morgan Sengwayo for spearheading a number of projects to economically empower women and youths. The church owns Greengables High School and a farm where unemployed youths and women are involved in various agricultural projects.

“I knew Sengwayo during his lifetime and he was such a visionary and great spiritual leader who had a great passion for helping the poor as evidenced by a number of projects that he left behind. It is through his vision that this church managed to attain 60 years of existence,” said Sandi-Moyo.

The church leader, Reverend Richard Sibanda echoed Sandi-Moyo’s sentiments and urged members to remain united.

“This project started from humble beginnings and grew into what it is today because of the spirit of oneness that existed in its formative years and we would like to urge our youths to continue with that spirit,” said Rev Sibanda.

Rev Sengwayo’s only surviving son, Missiondom said despite the divisions that rocked his father’s church, the organisation has over the years managed to increase its following within the Sadc region. The Pelandaba headquartered church was founded in 1955 and has branches in Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and Mozambique.

The celebrations were marked by scintillating choral music drawn from the various church groups some from as far as South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.