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Elita Chikwati and Joyce Mukucha
The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations yesterday said the current situation in Zimbabwe is an opportunity for the birth of a new nation. In a statement, the ZHOCD said the ruling party or Government were not solely responsible for the current situation.

They blamed it on the connivance of the different arms of the State and complicity of the church and civil society.

The organisation, which is comprised of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference and the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (UDACIZA), yesterday converged at the Africa Unity Square in Harare for a national prayer.

The prayer was attended by worshippers from different denominations and races. The prayer was a follow-up to a clarion call for every Christian to spare moments of prayer for Zimbabwe everyday between 12 noon and 2.00pm.

“Many Zimbabweans are confused and anxious about what has transpired and continues to unfold in our nation. While the changes have been rapid in the last few days, the real deterioration has been visible for everyone to see for a long time, especially during the public political rallies of the ruling party, coupled with the deteriorating socio-economic situation.

“Now we have reached a new chapter in the history of our nation. As we look at this situation as the heads of churches in Zimbabwe, we are reminded of the warning of Jesus in Luke 19, verse 41-44. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem when he saw the catastrophe of its destruction and the massacre of the people that was imminent because they had not recognised their opportunity (KAIROS) when God offered them.

“We see the current situation not just as a crisis in which we are helpless. We see the current arrangement as an opportunity for the birth of a new nation. Our God created everything out of chaos and we believe something new could emerge out of our situation. First, we have to define our problem. Proper naming of the problem will give us a clear sense of where we must go as a nation,” read the statement.

In an interview at the prayer session, Grace Ablazed International Fellowship’s Bishop Ancelimo Magaya said in light of the development that had been taking place in the country, whose climax was noted yesterday, people were celebrating despite the fact that the country was independent and people had not been experiencing their liberty.

“This a prayer of also saying President Mugabe can leave the office, but if the system is not transformed we will still have a renewed and strengthened hegemony that will see people suffer continuously,” said Bishop Magaya.

He also said as churches they wanted to see Zimbabwe transitioning into a new era which is marked with prosperity, political and economic stability as well as peace and justice where everybody exercises their God-given rights

“We are declaring that we see God intervening on our nation, this combination of many churches which include the Catholic Church, Grace Ablazed International Ministries among others, this is a wide representation of people from different denominations that are coming together in unity for peace and justice.

Roman Catholic leader Father Muchineripi Rungano said Zimbabwe needed peace that comes from Christ as gift that conquers fear in everybody.

“We pray for peace that comes from God. We do not want peace that is negotiated because sometimes people want to negotiate peace. I urge you to be agents of peace as represented by a white triangle on our flag,” he said.

The churches called on the nation to pray for the nation, called for calm and peace, respect of human dignity national dialogue and a transitional government of national unity.