Online Reporter
Samuel Kadungure, Mutare Bureau
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday challenged the Church to encourage a culture of hard, honest, production and productivity as the country accelerates its economic transformation and development agenda.
Addressing thousands of local and international pilgrims gathered for the Johane Marange Apostolic Church’s Big Sabbath Service at the Mafararikwa Shrine in Marange, Manicaland province, yesterday, the President said the Church has a critical role to play in promoting productivity and supporting national development efforts.
The service, which preceded the church’s annual Passover (Pasika) gathering, attracted thousands of worshippers from across Zimbabwe and beyond.
President Mnangagwa said the country’s economic aspirations could only be realised if citizens across all sectors, including religious communities, actively participated in productive activities that create wealth, improve livelihoods and strengthen food security.
“Our nation is marching on to Vision 2030. I challenge the Church to make loud its voice and encourage hard, honest work, production and productivity in all sectors, as we develop our country,” said President Mnangagwa. Kereke ngaiparidze kukosha kwekushanda nesimba. Ngaiparidze rudo, kubatana nekuda nyika yedu. Mwari akataura kuti tichadya cheziya. (The Church should preach the importance of hard work. It must preach love, unity and patriotism.
God says by the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.) Our national culture, values and identity as well as the correct moral upbringing of our children are important.
“The Church has a part to play. Tinovimba nekereke kuti ibatsire kuti tirambe tichichengetedza tsika dzedu nehunhu hwakanaka senyika. Ndimi chiyedza chenyika; rambayi muchibwinya (I hope the Church will help us preserve our cultural values and norms as a country. You are the light of the world; continue shining).”
President Mnangagwa also said the Church should continue providing spiritual guidance while encouraging its members to contribute meaningfully to national development through enterprise, innovation and increased production.
He commended the Johane Marange Apostolic Church for investing in key sectors such as education, entrepreneurship, skills development, sports, recreation and mining, saying the initiatives were helping to improve livelihoods and stimulate economic growth.
“That is commendable,” he said.
He encouraged the church to expand its empowerment projects, describing them as practical examples of how faith-based organisations can contribute to national development.
“The many empowerment projects you have undertaken demonstrate how your church contributes towards the growth of our economy.
“Tinotenda. Well done.”
Government, he added, would continue implementing reforms designed to remove barriers to production and support the growth of businesses and entrepreneurship.
“Hurumende icharamba ichidzikisa mitero yema licences and levies kuti vanhu vawane kushanda zvakareruka (Government will continue to review downwards fees and levies to improve the ease of doing business),” he said.
“Our Zanu-PF party policies will continue to promote access to more economic opportunities, wealth creation, jobs and a better quality of life for our people.
“Mhuri ye Zimbabwe uyai, ngativakeizve nyika yekwedu, kuti tinyadzise vavengi vedu. (Let’s come together to build our country as Zimbabweans in order to put our enemies to shame). I call upon the Church to mobilise and organise congregants to participate in empowerment programmes being championed by Government. Vemakereke, musasarire kumashure (The Church must not be left behind).
“Let us all be frontrunners in building the Zimbabwe we all want, household by household, village by village, ward by ward and district by district.”
The President also called for increased focus on agriculture and food security, urging farmers to prepare for possible climate-related challenges, including an El Niño-induced drought, by increasing the production of traditional grains and adopting climate-resilient farming practices.
He reiterated that under the Zanu-PF-led Government, no one and no place would be left behind, stressing that food security remained a national priority.
President Mnangagwa also applauded Manicaland province for its growing contribution to the national economy, citing achievements in wheat production, dairy farming and manufacturing.
He encouraged businesses and communities in the province to embrace technology, expand exports and take advantage of emerging economic opportunities to further drive growth.
The President thanked John Marange Apostolic Church High Priest and spiritual leader Mutumwa St Nimrod Taguta, church leaders, traditional leaders and Zanu-PF officials for promoting peace, unity and prayer for Zimbabwe and the African continent.
President Mnangagwa was accompanied by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya,
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution
Advocate Misheck Mugadza, Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire, legislators and senior Government officials.
The annual Passover gathering, held from July 1 to July 17, is one of the largest religious events on the church’s calendar and attracts thousands of pilgrims from Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries.
