Rally behind President: ZCC

George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Indigenous churches have been challenged to rally behind President Mugabe because of his spirited fight to restore the dignity of black people following decades of racial oppression under colonialism.

Leader of the newly-formed Zimbabwe Indigenous Church Leaders Association (Zila) Bishop Lyphet Matenda said, indigenous churches should never follow leaders and political outfits that were against President Mugabe.

Bishop Matenda, who is also the head of Zion Christian Church — Kumuka Kuvakafa — said the President was anointed by God to lead Zimbabwe and those who rebel against him were doomed.

Addressing thousands of congregants in Mawarire communal lands in Mwenezi on Sunday during celebrations for his election as the founding Zila president, Bishop Matenda paid tribute to President Mugabe for tirelessly fighting for the emancipation of previously marginalised blacks.

He said President Mugabe was brave enough to court the ire of rich and powerful Western nations by steadfastly defending the right of ordinary Zimbabweans to attain complete control of their resources.

“Indigenous churches owe a lot to President Mugabe and, we should continue to pray for him so that God gives him many more years in this world for him to continue defending black people,’’ he said.

“President Mugabe is a God-given gift to Zimbabweans, to Africans in general and those who rebel against him will never succeed because his rule was planned in heaven,’’ he added.

Bishop Matenda took a dig at Gamatox elements that tried to depose President Mugabe saying their mission was doomed to fail because it was not in the best interest of Zimbabweans for whom President Mugabe had sweated so much for.

“As Zila, we are saying we will remain solidly behind President Mugabe and Zanu-PF because their policies resonate with our wishes and aspirations. Indigenous churches have a long history with liberation parties in Zimbabwe dating back to the pre-Independence era,’’ he said.

Bishop Matenda hailed the President for his consistency in ridiculing heinous practices like homosexuality even in the face of attacks by Western nations.

Zila was founded by more than 50 Zion and Apostolic churches around the country and seeks to promote the interests of indigenous churches by rolling out projects that benefit its members.