Chronicle Editor
Thokozile Mbedzi
SOCIETY should cherish and facilitate the role played by women in decision-making and as peace-makers to enhance inclusive development, promote social cohesion and tolerance.
This emerged during a recent gathering hosted by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and attended by over 200 local and international female delegates at the United Methodist Church City Centre branch in Bulawayo.
Speakers and participants shared devotions and prayers with a specific focus on praying for Palestinian victims killed and displaced by Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Guest of honour at the event, Reverend Nyevhero Musekiwa, encouraged women to drive discussions about peace and unity across the world.
“The women under war are in a difficult situation, but they need God and us to be with them during these troubling times. We are women with love and unity, and I thank all the women who are present,” said Rev Musekiwa.
“This day is very important to us as women because we have to help each other pray and lift each other’s burdens regardless of boundaries of not even knowing each other by face, but we are one in the spirit.
“It’s very important for us to remember that in Palestine the women there are suffering from many problems from the war, oppression and many more and they need our prayers because even if we have our own problems, we must have time to pray for others.”
ZCC women provincial chairperson, Mrs Judith Dhliwayo, stated that women should serve as advocates of peace and their prayers were for the whole world.
She said this year’s programme was inspired by Ephesians 4:1-3, which reads in part: “I beg you, bear with one another in love”.
“The objectives of the commemorations are to encourage women to engage in personal prayer, encourage women to lead in communal prayers and to join the rest of the world in commemorating the World Day of Prayer and pray for Palestine and presentations written by Palestine women even when they are in difficult times,” said Dhliwayo.
“As women we are all gathered here with our leaders to commemorate the World Day of Prayer and we have all the churches’ representatives under the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Evangelical Fellowship in Zimbabwe, Roman Catholic Church in Zimbabwe and UDAIZA (Zionist) Churches,” she said.
Bishop Senda Ngulube, who chairs the Brethren in Christ Bulawayo Bishop’s Forum said: “We are concentrating prayers on the Palestinians. They have been displaced and others have lost their lives. So, our prayer is of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in peace and love, calling for the whole world to show humanity.”
Bishop Michael Dube of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe Western Diocese and National Health Commissioner of the ZCC said women were the backbone of the church.
“Women were the first to preach the gospel soon after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and they are the majority in all churches,” he said.
“The greatest gift we were given by God is love and praying for our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are on their knees regardless of the situation they are facing.
“We pray for peace and prosperity of Palestine, healing of survivors and families of victims of GBV in all parts of the world; healing of survivors and victims of families of cyclones; strengthening of relationships in marriages and families; national healing for Zimbabwe; unity of the church and sustainable reduction of drug and substance abuse.”
Online Reporter