Shift focus to unity, nation-building: Churches

ZIMBABWEANS must move on and unite after last month’s harmonised elections, and now focus on rebuilding the nation, an association of churches said yesterday.

Speaking to journalists after meeting Zanu PF secretary-general Cde Obert Mpofu, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), said it was high time the nation moved its attention away from the elections to matters of national development.

The ZCC brings together the mainline liturgical churches in the Protestant and reformed traditions. It excludes the Catholic and many independent evangelical churches and the apostolic churches.

“It was our request as the church to come and meet with the leadership of Zanu PF in line with our mandate as the church to ensure that we walk together and accompany our national leaders, political leaders in nation-building issues,” Rev Wilfred Dimingu, secretary-general of the group, said.

He said the church stood ready to complement the ruling party’s nation-building efforts.

“We are just coming out of harmonised elections and as a country we need to move on to unite the nation and to walk together. So we are here to exchange notes with the leadership of Zanu PF and explore the areas where the church can also participate in nation-building and unite our people as a nation,” said Rev Dimingu.

Cde Mpofu said Zanu PF and ZCC officials had a fruitful and forward-looking                              interaction.

“We met the Zimbabwe Council of churches at their request to pay a courtesy call immediately after the recently held harmonised elections where we have been exchanging our views on what may have happened; our experience, our views on general conduct of elections which as Zanu PF we won resoundingly,” he said.

“The leadership of ZCC thought it was prudent to engage us to discuss the issues not to review but to just share views on what the party feels about the recently held elections,” he said.

President Mnangagwa was re-elected for a second and final term, beating main challenger Mr Nelson Chamisa in the presidential election held last month. – New Ziana.