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Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube has called on churches to pray for the forthcoming elections.

He made the call while addressing delegates gathered at Golden Mile Hotel to celebrate the hotel’s owner, Mr Solomon Matsa’s achievement of scooping the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) businessman of the year award.

Minister Ncube said for the nation to have free, fair and credible elections as envisaged by President Mnangagwa, there was need for church leaders to pray for the election.

“I call upon people in this province and in particular church leaders to pray for the elections.

“They should pray that we have a free and non-violent election. Although we are heading towards a free election, let us pray that the peaceful environment prevails,” he said.

Minister Ncube said President Mnangagwa deserved a five-year term as president to allow him to accomplish his programmes.

“Let us also pray that President Mnangagwa gets a five-year term so that he can accomplish the programmes he had already lined up.

“As you are well aware, he has already attracted $15 billion investment for the six months he had been in office.

“We need to give him another chance so that he can turn around the fortunes of the country,” he said.

He urged people in the Midlands to safeguard natural resources.

“The President tasked us as resident ministers to spearhead the preservation of natural resources, but it begins with every one of you. As Midlands we are blessed with vast deposits of gold and other minerals, let us use them wisely and channel them towards economic growth,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion, ZNCC Midlands Region vice president Mr Tinashe Manzungu urged people in the Midlands to take advantage of the new political dispensation to boost their businesses.

“I urge you all to emulate Mr Matsa, you should take advantage of the free political sphere to boost your businesses in tandem with the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra being championed by our President,” he said.

Mr Matsa won the ZNCC Businessman of the year award at ZNCC annual congress held in Victoria Falls last month.

He has vast interests in hospitality, energy, transport and logistics.