Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Herald Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Christian Ministers Association (ZCMA) is spearheading a new initiative to unite churches in contributing to national development, emphasising the role of religious institutions in the country’s progress.
ZCMA president and chief executive officer Bishop Christopher Choto highlighted the significant influence of the church, noting that over 84 percent of country’s population were Christians.
“When the church is hands-on, it becomes easier to achieve the progress we want to see in our nation,” he said.
“We are calling upon church ministers, interdenominational ministries and various organisations to participate in programmes that will make our nation great.”
Bishop Choto emphasised the importance of constructive dialogue and positive nation-building.
“We need to change our narrative about Zimbabwe. Let us speak constructively and bring solutions rather than constantly focusing on problems,” he said.
“Our role as church leaders is to support positive developments and provide spiritual guidance to our nation’s leadership.”
The ZCMA is actively promoting church involvement in economic development and community building.
“We have observed successful models in countries like the USA and UK where churches pool resources to build malls and create employment. We are encouraging Zimbabwean churches to adopt similar initiatives.”
ZCMA also recently unveiled an extensive chaplaincy programme that spans 16 different fields, marking a revolutionary approach to pastoral care in the country.
They have already trained 400 chaplains who will be deployed across various sectors, including hospitals, airports, courts and correctional facilities.
