Online Reporter
George Maponga in BIKITA
THE Second Republic under President Mnangagwa’s stewardship has reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with indigenous churches to ensure a peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe as the nation forges ahead with the drive towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira highlighted the important role played by indigenous churches as reliable Government partners in engendering peace and socio-economic development in the country. He recounted how these churches helped Zimbabwe jettison the shackles of colonial rule, culminating in the attainment of independence in 1980.
Addressing hundreds of Johane Masowe eChishanu congregants during a three-day church convention at Duma, Nyika Growth Point in Bikita, Minister Chadzamira underscored the key role being played by indigenous churches to help safeguard Zimbabwe’s hard-won independence and create a morally upright citizenry.
Indigenous churches like the Johane Masowe eChishanu Church, the minister said, are partners in developing the nation towards becoming an upper middle-income society; hence they should be at the forefront of initiating impactful projects that bear on the country’s socio-economic transformation.
“We are happy that we have indigenous churches like Johane Masowe eChishanu that spread the gospel of self-determination for black people, which started even before the attainment of independence and continues today, as evidenced by the support that the church gives to President Mnangagwa’s administration as we continue our journey towards Vision 2030,’’ he stated.
“President Mnangagwa is very pleased with the support that the Johane Masowe eChishanu Church gives to the Second Republic, and as the government, we acknowledge that missionary churches built many churches, schools, and health facilities after they were established in this country before independence. It is also high time that indigenous churches do the same and approach the government to request land for building schools, hospitals and clinics.’’
Minister Chadzamira stressed that by taking the lead in spearheading transformative projects in the socio-economic sphere, indigenous churches would resonate with President Mnangagwa’s mantra, “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo’’.
“The President has made it clear that a country is developed by its own citizens through his now-popular mantra, ‘Nyika Inovakwa, Igochengetedzwa, Igonamatigwa Nevene Vayo.’ This means the President greatly values the important role that churches play in creating a peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe.’’
The Minister assured members of the Johane Masowe eChishanu Church in Masvingo province that his doors and those of the ruling party under President Mnangagwa, will always remain open to address their grievances.
He assured the church that the Government would ensure it receives land for setting up its shrines and places of worship, adding that the church would also benefit from projects such as the Presidential Borehole Drilling and Fisheries Schemes currently being undertaken countrywide.
In Duma, Minister Chadzamira promised to drill a solar-powered borehole for the Johane Masowe eChishanu Church, which would be part of a Village Business Unit, comprising a fish pond and horticultural garden to empower the church members as they worship.
This came after Johane Masowe eChishanu leader in Masvingo Province, Madzibaba Garai Kufandada, reaffirmed his church’s support for President Mnangagwa’s administration, saying they were guided by a simple rule that all leaders are anointed by God.
Madzibaba Garai praised President Mnangagwa and the Zanu PF Government for the peaceful environment prevailing in the country, which allows Zimbabweans to worship freely at any time.
The Johane Masowe Chishanu leader also appealed to the Government to ensure the church’s shrines and places of worship are respected, while also requesting that the church be considered in the allocation of land and farms for building schools and farming.
