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Herald Reporter 

Church leaders, who have played an important role in the country’s socio-political landscape, will be honoured at a function scheduled for Harare this evening.

This comes amid growing calls for the church to be realigned to save it from opportunists who are keen to use religion to malign Government. 

Similarly, some church leaders are accused of capitalising on citizens’ quest for salvation, only for them make bizarre pronouncements which have seen some people being swindled of their hard earned cash, thus tarnishing the name of the church. 

The Zimbabwe Christian Ministers Association (ZCMA), an umbrella body representing church organisations, is today expected to honour “church fathers” who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the church and the nation. 

Among those expected to be honoured today are the late Evangelist Phanuel Chiweshe (posthumously), Bishop Tudor Bismarck of Tudor Bismarck International Ministries, Professor Ezekiel Guti of Zaoga, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi of the Zion Christian Church, among others. 

ZCMA president Bishop Christopher Choto said: “We will be recognising, honouring and appreciating men and women, most of them very high profile fathers of the church who have really served the body of Christ and shepherded the nation for many years.”

He added that it was disheartening to note that the good works of some the church’s leading lights were now being dragged into the mud by unscrupulous leaders.

“So what we seek to do is to bring back the integrity that is synonymous with the church and the body of Christ through recognising our leaders,” said Bishop Choto. 

Church leaders such as Bishop Mutendi, Prof Guti and Family of God founder, Reverend Andrew Wutawunashe, among others, have been leading campaigns to pray for the nation.