More than just a prayer request

Fatima Bulla
ACTING President Phelekezela Mphoko’s call for religious leaders to pray for sufficient rain has been viewed by the Church as a good vibe in defining its critical role on issues affecting the nation.
Last Tuesday, the Acting President met religious leaders in Harare and urged them to pray for rain. The prayers started Saturday across denominations and are expected to culminate in a week of prayer ending January 17.
In a statement he said, “On behalf of the President, RG Mugabe, I hereby call upon all Zimbabweans to pray for sufficient rain in this season for our nation.
“In the face of this possible drought, it is important that we turn to the Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of life to heal our land.
“I therefore request that we all dedicate time in our different gatherings to pray from Saturday the 9th of January to Sunday the 17th of January 2016. It is incumbent on all citizens of Zimbabwe to prioritise this national call and play your role.”
The call brings into perspective the role of the Church in national issues.
Since time immemorial, kings consulted prophets of God or vice-versa.
Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 18-23 sought the Lord’s will through Micaiah, a prophet.
It was the same with Jeremiah during the reign of King Zedekiah (Jeremiah 37), and Nathan during King David’s reign (2 Samuel 12 ) among others.
In his paper titled “Good Governance and the Role of the Church: Governance in the Face of Political Issues”, Uganda’s Specioza Kabahuma said, “The Church is expected to carry out a critical analysis of society to identify areas and issues which may cause conflict if not prevented or solved in time. This is a requirement on the Church always to read and correctly interpret the signs of the time and take the necessary preventive action.
“The prophetic witness of the church need to be felt whereby the leadership warn people and society at large to do whatever possible to prevent any likely conflict which may cause divisions, disunity, insecurity and suffering to God’s people. This constant critical analysis of society and the correct interpretation of the signs of times is still very weak in our Church and society as a whole.”
He also spoke of the Church’s role in conflict prevention as an impartial and attentive listener, mediator, and civic educator.
Zimbabwe Catholics Bishops Conference secretary-general Father Frederick Chiromba said, “We are always seized with national issues at various levels and the Church is in various provinces, districts and wards. And what we do is to engage the political leadership levels.
“So we are involved sometimes very quietly but also at other times very publicly. It’s a good thing that Government has asked churches to join in prayer at this time for rain and as we pointed during the meeting it is something we have been doing all along, but as individuals.
“Now what Government has done is to bring us together but we have always been doing it. Actually it only depends on the publicity. The Church is speaking all the time only sometimes that nobody is listening. But this one voice between Government and the church I am sure more people will pay attention.”
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe president Dr Shingi Munyeza said Government’s call had spiritual significance.
“What is important is God honours the authority he has put into leadership. When it rises to the occasion to seek God, the Church – which is the prophetic voice to the nation – rises in line with it and not in confusion with it.
“What we want is that the Church carries the baton to say that we are now tasked by our leaders that we pray, it’s a good response to what our cry has been,” said Dr Munyeza, who is also an executive member of the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations.
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