adminWalter Mswazie recently in Chivi
CHURCHES in Chivi South will soon hold a combined church conference to pray for peace prior, during and after the harmonised elections expected in July, in response to President Mnangagwa’s calls for a peaceful election.
Addressing representatives of religious organisations at Maringire Primary School in Chivi, Councillor Killer Zivhu said he would work with church leaders in Chivi South towards holding the combined conference to also pray for President Mnangagwa, the district and Zanu-PF, after the Easter holiday.
The Easter holidayruns from Friday up to Monday next week.
Cllr Zivhu said most of the people in Chivi were Christians who believed in the power of prayer and would help organise the church gathering, comprising different denominations.
“I would have a meeting with church leaders in Chivi South so that we can organise the big church gathering,” he said.
“Apart from praying for peace, we would want the church leaders to spread the word on peaceful elections to their members and communities.”
Cllr Zivhu, who is also president of the Zimbabwe Local Government Association and president of the Association of Rural District Councils (ARDC), underscored the need for churches to pray for the country’s leadership and partake in the ruling party’s developmental programmes.
Cllr Zivhu is also chairperson of Chivi Rural District Council.
“Zanu-PF is the only party with people at heart and your prayers will keep it going,” he said. “You are seeing the strides that our President Cde Mnangagwa is doing in trying to address economic challenges in the country.
“He needs our prayers and we are going to have a two-day praying conference in this district. The President has called for peaceful elections and now the ball is in our court to take the message to our homes and communities.
“If we do not play our part as community leaders in our areas in calling for the spreading the gospel of peace according to President Mnangagwa, no one will. We cannot expect the President to come down here and repeat the message. It is us his foot soldiers who must carry his message to where we live.”
Cllr Zivhu said prospects of more development in Chivi were now possible following the new dispensation brought by President Mnangagwa.
In the past few years, Cllr Zivhu led the district in instituting several development programmes under the five-year Zim-Asset economic blueprint which expires in a few months.
Cllr Zivhu said Chivi district was unique as its agenda on development was spot on despite the scarcity of resources and commended the unity shown by people in the district in their quest to develop themselves.
Developmental programmes initiated by Cllr Zivhu included dissecting the economic blueprint to come up with the Chivi Village Zim-Asset.
This saw communities taking part in developmental programmes at the village level, resulting in the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, clinics and schools.
Several weirs were built under the programme initiated by Cllr Zivhu, with several small-scale irrigation schemes being either established or revived in several parts of the district.
Cllr Zivhu superintended over the sinking of boreholes throughout the district, while at least 70 classroom blocks were constructed.
To ensure the projects were successful, Cllr Zivhu worked with fellow councillors to mobilise communities to improve their areas by providing free labour.
There is also a project being spearheaded by Cllr Zivhu to build at least 800 ablution facilities at homesteads, churches and schools to improve hygiene and sanitation.
As the ARDC leader, Cllr Zivhu started a programme for councillors in which they are campaigning for President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF to win overwhelmingly in the forthcoming elections.
The councillors mobilised people to register as voters and are now mobilising them at the ward level to vote for the ruling party and President Mnangagwa.
Online Reporter