adminTinomuda Chakanyuka in Kwekwe
MORE than 300 members of the Guta Ra Mwari (GRM) Church yesterday held a cleansing ceremony along the Harare-Bulawayo highway to rid the route of evil spirits believed to be responsible for the carnage witnessed on the road over the past years. The church members drawn from Bulawayo, Harare, and Kwekwe held three separate processions along the highway holding prayer sessions at 19 identified blackspots. One group started from Bulawayo and held prayers at the Fairbridge turn-off to Connemara near Gweru, while another group from Harare started from Mr Maplanka turn-off at the intersection of Harare-Bulawayo highway and Tynwald Road to Munyati River Bridge in Kwekwe. The third group from Kwekwe proceeded from Munyati River Bridge to Hunters Road turn-off in Kwekwe.
Some of the spots where the church held prayers included Nhlambabaloyi turn-off, the 333km peg near Shangani River, the area near Regina Mundi High School in Gweru, Kwekwe River, Kuwadzana 2 Round About in Harare, Empress turn-off and Manyame Bridge after Morton Jaffray Water Works.
After the three processions, the groups converged on the 232km peg along the route where about 32 people were killed earlier this year when a Pfochez bus collided with a Mercedes Benz Sprinter. President Mugabe declared the accident a state of disaster. The group held a prayer session at the spot before marching for about a kilometre singing church hymns.
GRM Evangelist coordinator International Mr Eliphas Nkatha said cleansing ceremony was meant to implore God to rid the spots of the evil spirits that were claiming lives.
“We believe that when people die violently there is bound to be some spirit that will hover around the place and cause more violent deaths. That will result in that place being called a blackspot. The main purpose of this cleansing ceremony is to implore to God to reduce the spiritual challenges attacking motorists,” he said.
Mr Nkatha also urged motorists to exercise caution on the road and observe traffic regulations to avoid accidents and loss of lives.
After the processions church members went to Kwekwe High School where they held a hand healing ceremony. Speaking at the healing ceremony the church’s Band Master International Mr Martin Mangena expressed confidence that the blackspots will be cleansed following the church’s prayers. Guta RaMwari was formed in 1954. The church is headquartered in Bulawayo.
derick.khumalo