Zimpapers Logo

Manicaland Bureau
Indigenous churches and traditional leaders should complement Government efforts to turn around the economy, as their input is crucial in helping drive the country’s development agenda. Addressing members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect led by Madzibaba Andyby Mukaruru at his shrine in Zimunya, Mutare, on Friday, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Monica Mutsvangwa (pictured left) urged churches and traditional leaders to preach peace, saying unity largely engendered peace and development.

“As churches, you must preach peace and unity,” she said. “Where there is unity and peace there is also development.
“When investment opportunities open up, as churches you should come forward. When job opportunities come by, you should as well come forward because I heard that there are many members of this church who have professional qualifications and even degrees.”

Minister Mutsvangwa urged churches to engage Government whenever they needed assistance.
She called on churches to actively participate in economic activities.

Minister Mutsvangwa hailed Madzibaba Andyby’s sect for empowering women in his church by constructing a vocational training centre.

“I am happy to hear that you are constructing a vocational centre for training women in various skills,” she said. “This is the kind of development that we are looking forward to see.”

Mutare South legislator Nyasha Chikwinya said churches had a role to play in supporting Government initiatives.
Churches, she said, also helped raise the spiritual being of leaders.

“We want to see churches working with Government so that what the President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, is preaching comes to fruition,” said Cde Chikwinya. “We will help them in their endeavours as churches so that they benefit from Government initiatives.”

Chief Zimunya appealed to churches to be united and work with traditional leaders.
He said as chiefs, they were prepared to work with churches, especially during the election period.

“Let us be united and support Government and its programmes,” he said.
Madzibaba Andyby pledged his support for President Mnangagwa’s leadership.