by Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole in Chipinge
The Zimbabwean government is set to drill and donate boreholes to some indigenous churches, with St Luke’s Apostolic Ejiwel Jekenishen under Arch-bishop Dr Phillip Pferedzai being the first recipient under Council for Churches in Africa banner, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said.
Speaking during the church’s annual passover gathering at their Maunganidze congregational headquarters in Chipinge, Advocate Mugadza reiterated that indigenous churches are part of stakeholders set to benefit from the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme, hence ensuring access to efficient, sustainable and safe water supply amongst communities.
“We have heard that women and youths struggle to have water during your annual festivities at this headquarters. With President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s Presidential Borehole Drilling programme, we will drill two boreholes so that we counter acute water supply shortages that the church is experiencing for decades,” Advocate Mugadza said.
“It is the duty of our government to make sure that indigenous churches have been transformed to suit best standards and ensure basic needs are addressed forthright.” Advocate Misheck Mugadza added.
“We are also happy that churches have taken heed of First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa’s initiatives that are aimed at transforming both women and youths amongst communities. Your commitment as churches to fight drugs and substances abuse complement government’s policy on zero tolerance to this scourge.” Mugadza said.
“The Council for Churches in Africa’s partnership with institutions of Higher learning (Zimbabwe Open University) and Angel of Hope Foundation will see several women being empowered with necessary skills and knowledge required for realisation of Vision 2030,” Advocate Misheck Mugadza noted.
Meanwhile, the Council for Churches in Africa’s Founder President, Arch-bishop Dr Rocky Moyo has claimed that his organisation has embarked on an overdrive to engage and familiarise with indigenous churches so that they conform to national constitutions of the countries they operate in; and operate within the confines of the respective laws and regulations governing churches.
“We have embarked on educational awareness, engagement and familiarisation exercises with some church practices to assess if they are operating within the confines of the law,” Dr Moyo said.
“Some churches have been founded before their respective countries attained independence, hence the need for us to teach and train them that there is need to change from some doctrinal practices that could harm or infringe upon the freedoms and rights of others,” Arch-Bishop Moyo said.
“We are happy that the St Luke’s Apostolic Ejiwel Jekenishen Church has been working tirelessly around the clock to empower women, children, among other less priviledged members of communities throughout Africa,” Arch-Bishop Moyo noted.
Amongst the guests during the gathering include Cde Tapiwa Mukodza, the ZANU PF provincial chairman for Manicaland province, Cde Dr Davison Todson Gomo ZANU PF Commissariat Director for Research, Strategy and Liaison who is also in charge of Party Affiliates, among others.
This year’s gathering saw over 75 000 congregants attended the passover feast (feast of the unleavened bread).