Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
THE City of Harare is set to hold a Harare Christian Festival early next month, bringing together various church denominations in an effort to fight drugs and substances abuse.
Addressing stakeholders and church leaders yesterday, City of Harare Information and Publicity Committee chairperson, Councillor Kudzai Kadzombe, said this was meant to help residents of the capital embrace religion.
She said the initiative follows a resolution made on August 18 that the City should open public spaces to Christian denominations for preaching, evangelism and the celebration of Christian culture.
Cllr Kadzombe said the inaugural festival is proposed for October 2 to Sunday October 4.
“Our aim is to fight drugs and substances abuse,” she said.
“As part of the programme, a procession involving various Christian denominations will march in their church attire, celebrating Christian faith and unity across the City.”
Cllr Kadzombe said the festival is also intended to bridge denominational gaps by bringing various churches and Christian organisations together for a common purpose.
She said it will provide a platform for evangelism through street preaching and public engagement, and create opportunities for the distribution and sale of Christian literature, Bibles and other faith-based resources.
A Councillor said:
“We are aware that some people lost faith in the City of Harare for various reasons, including battles with municipal police.
“It is time to bury the hatchet, rebuild our relations, come together and fight the common enemy – drugs and substances abuse.
“Let us join hands and find the face of God to heal our land. Let every church member come and have time to worship the living God.”
Festival spokesperson, Mercy Makuwatsine, said part of Agostinho Neto Avenue will be closed to allow church denominations to exhibit their regalia and sell some of their items.
“Apart from Speke Avenue (Agostinho Neto Avenue), open spaces such as Africa Unity Square, Harare Gardens, Glamis Arena, City Sports Centre and Robert Mugabe Square will be opened for Christian exhibition and soul winning,” Makuwatsine said.
She said the festival will start on October 2 with various denominations allocated time to share the pulpit through singing, preaching and dancing.
For those selling Christian material, Makuwatsine said there would be no charges.
“For those selling food, they will first be licensed and will be strictly monitored for health reasons,” she said.
Makuwatsine encouraged gospel musicians from different church denominations to take part in the procession to add “spiritual flavour” to the festival.
Among the church leaders who attended the meeting were representatives of churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, Salvation Army, Methodist Church, and Pentecostal churches such as United Family International Church, New United Apostolic Faith Church, Apostolic Faith Mission and Zion churches of Zimbabwe.
Also present were the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Christian Ministers, chaplains and white garment churches.
