Story by Tamuka Charakupa
The Church has been commended for cascading government programmes to the community.
This came out during an interface held between government and members of various church denominations in Chegutu this Saturday.
The ordaining occasion of at least seven bishops belonging to the African Christian Churches of Zimbabwe in Chegutu saw Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Marian Chombo saying the Church plays a valuable role in cascading government programmes.
“Government and the church are one. We rely on such social institutions like these ones to take the message to the people. President Mnangagwa is on record that nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, inotongwa ne vene vayo uye kunamatirwa ne vene vayo. We want to thank the President for enabling freedom of worship in the country where churches have become instrumental especially now when we are fighting the scourge of drug and substance abuse,” said Honourable Chombo.
Church leaders say they will remain resolute in supporting government’s initiatives under the inclusive developmental thrust.
The president of the African Christian Churches of Zimbabwe, Apostle Edgar Maireva said, “We are faced with the scourge of drug and substance abuse and it is upon us as the church to stop this menace not only by praying but intensifying awareness campaigns.”
“As African indigenous churches, we are pushing for the decolonisation of the mind and we are doing so through encouraging our membership to support our own government because traditionally, the chief worked hand in glove with the priest. Leaders are ordained by God, so the church needs the state and the state needs the church and with that dual co-existence, we are able to attain Vision 2030,” said Bishop Johannes Ndanga of the African Christian Churches International.
The African Christian Church of Zimbabwe is one of the bodies which represent indigenous churches in the country.
