Gibson Mhaka [email protected]
THE Pan-African Religious Leaders Assembly (PARLA) Summit in Bulawayo has strengthened unity among African churches and opened opportunities for cross-border business partnerships, Faith Christ International Church leader Prophet Dr Thabiso Ngwenya has said.
He said the five-day gathering, which brought together religious leaders from 36 African countries, provided a platform to share experiences and explore ways the Church could contribute to social and economic development.
The summit, held under the theme “Rise Up: From Dependency to Self-Sufficiency — Every Nation is Built by Its Own People,” began on Tuesday and ended on Saturday.
Prophet Ngwenya said discussions on the first day focused on challenges affecting women and children, including gender-based violence, early and child marriages, child trafficking and drug abuse.
“We held our summit here in Bulawayo, the City of Kings. On the first day, we focused on issues affecting women and children,” he said.
“Our resolutions emphasised the need to address gender-based violence through collaboration with governments and other organisations working with affected groups.
“We also discussed early and child marriages, child trafficking and drug abuse. We believe there is a need to work with governments across Africa to find lasting solutions to these challenges.”
He said the discussions later turned to economic cooperation, with delegates exploring ways to connect Christian-owned businesses across national borders.
“On the second day, we focused on business and economic collaboration, exploring how we can connect businesses across Africa, particularly those owned by members of the Christian community.
“We want to establish our own business network and forum where, for example, a businessperson in Kenya can trade with someone in South Africa, while someone in Nigeria can do business with a counterpart in Algeria,” he said.
Prophet Ngwenya said some participants had registered companies during the summit, while others were completing the process online.
“Here in Zimbabwe, we also have people working with their Christian counterparts to strengthen business relations,” he said.
He said the summit had challenged the Church to go beyond worship and take a more active role in addressing social challenges, promoting economic self-sufficiency and strengthening continental cooperation.
Prophet Ngwenya was recognised for his contribution to inter-denominational cooperation, receiving the Best Inter-Denominational Unity Builder accolade.
“I am happy and grateful for this recognition. It encourages me to continue promoting unity among churches and contributing to our communities,” he said.
He commended PARLA president Archbishop Dr Rocky Moyo for bringing together religious leaders from 36 African countries, saying the gathering had created opportunities for collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
The latest accolade adds to Prophet Ngwenya’s previous recognition in the religious sector. In 2024, United States-based institutions Maxilass University and Logos University awarded him honorary degrees.
Maxilass University conferred on him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree, while Logos University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Social and Leadership Management degree.
Last year, he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership from Logos University after completing his studies at the United States-based institution.
