Promote Peace, Church Leaders Urged in Zimbabwe by Vice-President Mujuru

Vice President Joice Mujuru and Bishop Eben Kanukai Nhiwatiwa of the United Methodist Church sing a hymn at her Chisipite home in Harare yesterday., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Promote peace, church leaders urged

Sunday, 19 May 2013 00:00
Midlands Bureau
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail

Vice-President Joice Mujuru has called on
church leaders to support efforts aimed at promoting unity and peace in the country ahead of theforthcoming harmonised elections.

Speaking at a Ministers’ Fraternal for Churches and Denominations prayer meeting at the Civic Centre in Gweru yesterday, Cde Mujuru, who was the guest of honour, said the church should actively advocate national unity since it brings together people of various political and socio-economic backgrounds.

She urged churches to continue working with Government to promote peace.

“The church is one social institution where there is no discrimination based on political affiliation or socio-economic backgrounds.

The role of the church is bringing people together as one family,” she said.

“Church and politics should work hand in hand. It is the duty of the church to unite people from all walks of life. That spirit of oneness has always been there and was further cemented by the liberation struggle which brought people of different tribes and cultural backgrounds together.

“For that reason, Zimbabweans should remain united. The church also has been supportive even during the liberation struggle. Therefore, the church should also take part in jealously guarding the gains of the revolution.

“Vafundisi vanofanira kubata pamwe neHurumende. Ndizvo zvinoita kuti munyika muve nerunyararo (Church leaders should work with Government. This is what helps bring about peace in the country).”

The Vice-President also encouraged politicians to embrace humility in their dealings with the electorate.

She added that the country should remain united by the foundation of the liberation struggle. “People should all come together.

We must bury our differences because we were brought together by the war of liberation that we fought as a family for the cause of each and every Zimbabwean.

“No one is superior to the other. Therefore, no one should be discriminated against based on religion, race, political affiliation, tribe or social background. Politicians must humble themselves before the electorate instead of instilling fear and intimidating them. A leader should be respected rather than being feared.”

Cde Mujuru said church leaders should embrace Government empowerment initiatives such as the land reform and the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment programmes.

She said both programmes were open to all Zimbabweans.

“Churches and their leaders must benefit from all Government-initiated empowerment programmes.

Churches and their leaders must benefit from the land reform and the indigenisation programme. You deserve that land. No one is more superior to the other,” she said.

“Church leaders should be allocated land. We are going to set up a meeting with the mining commissioner so that churches can also venture into mining as part of the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme.”

Yesterday’s prayer meeting was also attended by Midlands Governor and Resident Minister Cde Jason Machaya; the Ministers of State in the Vice-President’s Office, Cdes Sylvester Nguni and Flora Buka; Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo and Zvishavane-Ngezi legislator Cde Obert Matshalaga, among other dignitaries.