‘Zanu PF shares same vision with church’

Mkhululi Ncube

Bulawayo Bureau

Both Zanu PF and the churches share the same vision of facilitating empowerment and the well-being of ordinary people in the country, Zanu PF National Political Commissar Cde Munyaradzi Machacha said in Bulawayo at the weekend.

He was speaking in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb on Saturday where he joined scores of people who braved the chilly weather to celebrate the conferment of two honorary doctorate degrees to religious leader, Prophet Thabiso Ngwenya, of Faith in Christ International.

Ngwenya was honoured for his work by two United States universities, Maxilass University, which awarded him a Doctor of Divinity honorary degree and the Logos University, which awarded him a Doctor of Social and Leadership Management honorary degree.

These came after the Council of Churches in Africa recommended that Prophet Ngwenya be honoured following decades of his mission.

In his address, Cde Machacha said Zimbabwe had a history of being a spiritual country hence it was no surprise that a number of prophets who have done a lot have emerged in the country.

“As a country, we have always been a spiritual people who fear God. We were not taught about God by the whites because we had knowledge of Him.

“We were only taught about Jesus but we knew God. So, it is no surprise that we have prophets such as Ngwenya arising amongst us. Our relationship with the church is not because we want votes but because our party has always been one with the church,” said Cde Machacha.

“Our first president of the party was Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, a reverend leading a political party. Even during the war of our liberation, most of the help came from the churches who donated food and medicines,” said Cde Machacha.

“A number of pastors and nuns were killed for this. So, our relationship is inseparable and it did not start now. This shows that the church and politics goes hand in hand.

“Even in the bible, kings had prophets to give directions. We both have one vision to see the well-being of our people.”

Like Government, he said the church wanted to serve the people and see their well-being in health and education hence the building of schools and health institutions by religious organisations.

“We have to have good well-being while here on earth, not in heaven only, hence God gave us a rich nation full of minerals. We should not let foreigners take these while we do not benefit,” said Cde Machacha.

“As Zanu PF we also want the well-being of our people. This is the reason why we continue to avail empowerment programmes to the people.”