Religion is defined by the Concise English Dictionary as, “the belief in and worship of a supernatural controlling power, especially a personal god or gods.” Religion entails faithfulness to a given set of principles. Most people have real strong attachments to their religious beliefs and any attempt to take them away can only lead to arguments that are as futile as they are pointless. Strong emotions characterise religion. Religion has seen thousands of martyrs putting their lives at the stake.

Religion is what saw early missionaries leaving the comfort of their countries to come to jungles and lion-infested lands on the strength of their convictions to spread the Word. It is religion which motivated the Second Chimurenga with the conviction the freedom fighters had that the great ancestor, Nehanda, had said, “Mapfupa angu achamuka” (My dead bones will rise) before the settlers had killed her.

Religion, to the majority, is a matter of life and death. I know of medical doctors and engineers who gave up their well-paying jobs in heeding religious calls. It follows that religion is no laughing matter.

Now, it is the very nature of religion that it is unique and each person has a right to choose how they want to worship. It is difficult to force anyone into believing anything they do not want to believe and it is not right to try and ram one’s religious beliefs down the throats of others. One ought to convert to a certain religion with willingness and conviction. The very structure of religion makes it difficult to control beliefs or anyone since they have a right even recognized in most constitutions.

Section 60(1) (a)(b) of the new constitution notes that, “Every person has the right to freedom of conscience, which includes freedom of thought, opinion, religion or belief; and freedom to practice and propagate and give expression to their thought, opinion, religion or belief whether in public or in private and whether alone  or together with others.”

In light of this clear provision it can only be illegal to interfere with anyone’s religious beliefs. History overflows with examples of violent clashes and tragedies that were precipitated by attempts to control people’s religious beliefs. Most democratic countries thus naturally guarantee people’s right to freedom of worship.

Now, the ugly scenes of violence that rocked Budiriro last week are ample proof that people will not give up their religious beliefs easily, no matter how absurd. The savage attack on police officers will rank as one of the most shocking incidents the country has ever witnessed in religious circles. While regulating religious beliefs is not the most desirable thing to do, there comes a time when some practices simply become blatantly evil to be associated with God.

Zimbabweans will be quick to recall the spine-chilling abuses perpetrated by jailed religious leader Martin Gumbura on his female congregants. Surely, one does not need to be a spiritual being to recognize abuse. The sad thing, though, is that most victims of abuse do not view it as such. It pains to realise how the religious insanity now prevailing in our country opens valves of abuse against God’s name by the heathen. It makes religion appear like a force that blinds its followers when, in essence, it should open their eyes to the goodness of the Creator. It is very sad to see open abuse of women and children all in the name of religion.

One would wonder which God condones grown-up men inserting their fingers in young girls’ privates in the name of religious virginity testing. Which God advocates for denying children their basic right to education? Honestly, which God opposes citizens’ right to own an identity card document? Which godly religion watches people die because they don’t believe in ‘worldly’ clinics?

My friends, there is no right which is not followed by responsibility. One cannot claim to be enjoying their right to religion when it steps on the toes of another’s right. Religion never renders anyone the right to abuse vulnerable members of society. That the Budiriro sect was engaged in deplorable practices should be condemned by all who believe in the sanctity of the name of a pure God.

The Budiriro apostolic sect members’ acts constitute stinking abuse which should be condemned in the strongest terms possible. Also, that they even had the effrontery to assault law enforcers deserves rebuke of the highest form. The need to limit the rights of religious sects has become a priority in this country. Zimbabwe appears to be having more cults than ever in its history. While it must be conceded that religious beliefs are better left unlimited, some things simply can’t be left to go on. The banning of particular practices is really commendable and true religionists should rally behind the protection of the good name of religion.

The Anglican  Church  said it has managed to raise from its church members at least   $1 million which it has used to renovate most of the church buildings which had been run down by the church’s  ex communicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga.

Most of the properties the church said had managed to bring to shape include the Pax House which it is leasing to the Parliament of Zimbabwe whose elevators had not been functioning for years.

Also renovated is the church’s main cathedral located at corner 2^nd street and Nelson Mandela Avenue in the city centre .

Briefing journalists on the church’s developments  in Harare Tuesday Reverend .Fr Paul Gwese, who was standing in for the church’s Bishop of Harare Dr Nicholas Chad Gandiya, said they are struggling to raise funds needed to renovate all the church properties.

“ At the perish where I am in at Saint Luke’s  Greendale we have spent more than $70 000 on renovations and if one takes into account that we have more than 50 perishes within the diocese we are not only talking of hundreds of thousands of dollars but over a million dollars ,” he said.

“In other instances where you were supposed to renovate bathrooms you are not going to renovate but to do new ones .If you look at the main Harare Cathedral we have only done the main church only and we have spent an excess of $60 000 without attending to the walls.

“If you look at the Pax House just putting elevators which had not been working for the past three four years it has costed us more than $100 000,” added Reverend Gwese.

The Church has so far managed to repossess most all of its movable and immovable property, including schools and church buildings, across the country last year after winning the property wrangle against Bishop Kunonga, through the Supreme Court.

The property wrangle which lasted for over five years found the followers of Dr Nicholas Chad Gandiya resorting to worshipping in open spaces throughout the country after Kunonga engaged the police to evict them.

Reverand Gwese told reporters that their followers in the remote areas were finding it difficult to raise funds for the renovations of their churches which were also run down during the property wrangle period.

Reverend Gwese,however, said the ex-communicated Bishop Nolbert Kunonga was no longer holding on to any church properties.

“Not in the diocese of Harare. We are not sure if there are other properties may in Masvingo or Manicaland ,some remote probably properties that we were not able to get .I know in the last two months there was a story in the press that Kunonga had grabbed a property in Manicaland  but after having checked with the relevant authorities there ,it proved that it was not correct, ”he said.

The Anglican Church has 72 properties, which include schools, commercial and church buildings, some of the properties had been reportedly turned into “brothels” and other dirty uses during Kunonga’s tenure.

The high density suburb of Budiriro 4, in Harare, is one area which is developing very fast, with Central African Building Society (CABS) visible with its low income housing project.

The development was welcomed by many as it meant a number of people would have a roof over their heads, and a place to call home. But for Madzibaba Enoch, real name Hebert Senda, who leads a sect called Johanne Masowe Nyenyedzi Nomwe, the development in Budiriro was not welcome at all.

This is because the housing project was sprawling into his holy shrine that he has  inhabited for the past 16 years.

When the CABS project encroached onto his shrine, including the holy place, Madzibaba Enoch was not amused and declined to be evicted by the developers, including even by the Harare City Council.

He has allegedly used his religious powers and other such influences to defray eviction, at least for now.

Apart from that, Madzibaba Enoch, who commands a huge following in the capital had backing from politicians, traditional leaders and the congregants who vowed to stand by their holy place.

When The Zimbabwe Mail visited the shrine on Sunday, it was clear that land developers had respected the man of cloth, as evidenced by how they skipped the shrine, leaving it untouched, before resuming development some metres away.

Thatched huts that are used as shelter by those seeking assistance are still there, with congregants occupying a huge chunk of the land.

In an interview, Madzibaba Enoch said he was helping a lot of Zimbabweans, and has occupied the space for the past 16 years.

“I have been in this area for the past 16 years. When I arrived here, this place was nothing but a forest. The Holy Spirit directed me here, and people used to hunt for game meat here. The suburb of Budiriro 4 was not there though few had built some structures then.

“But 16 years later, developers now want this place. The City of Harare came, the riot police also came but I am still here. I am not being stubborn or resisting eviction but there are certain procedures that must be followed,” he said.

According to his version, the area they occupy is in Ward 24, Zvimba East, under Chief Negomo, who is also a member of the church. This, therefore, means the land does not belong to Harare City Council.

However, Harare City Council spokesperson Leslie Gwindi yesterday insisted that the piece of land belonged to the council and that it was allocated to CABS for the housing scheme.

He said plans had already been approved for construction of houses on that land.

“But that piece of land you made reference to is planned for housing development. Plans have already been approved to build houses under the CABS scheme,” said Gwindi.

Meanwhile, Madzibaba Enoch dismissed allegations published in the media that he was paying people to fake testimonies, saying that it was the work of his detractors bent on pulling him down.

He has been labelled a fake prophet but laughed off the stigma, saying his works were enough evidence that he was a messenger of God.

“I was shocked to learn that there are people out there spreading lies about this church. I have been here for a long time and this church has a lot of people. Why would I bribe people to fake miracles? I am aware that these people are just jealous about the whole thing.

“We are not here for jokes, but helping a lot of souls. We have traditional healers coming here for spiritual healing. Some people from most of the prominent pentecostal churches are always here for help. We are here to heal the sick and help people. Currently, we are in the process of constructing wards so that those who are sick and have not responded to scientific medication can stay and be prayed for,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Mail had an opportunity to meet Madzibaba Enoch’s spiritual father, Madzibaba Bibo (real name Bibo Musapurwa) from Chiweshe who had visited his son in the Lord. Madzibaba Bibo said he had come after he heard the allegations being levelled against Enoch.

“I know Madzibaba Enoch as my (spiritual) son and am aware of the power he has, that it is from heaven. After hearing the news that there are people spreading lies about him, I had to come here in solidarity,” said Madzibaba Bibo who owns a school of prophecy.

Who is Madzibaba Enoch?

Madzibaba Enoch is a popular Zimbabwean prophet and healer who was born 33 years ago. He is single and will not marry for he is under a vow which the church refers to as chitsidzo. He is originally from Chiweshe and started healing and praying for people while in Form 3.

“I relocated from Chiweshe to this area when I met a messenger from God (Mutumwa) in Dande who directed me here. But before, I had to stay with one Madzibaba Judah for three years who mentored me,” he said.

He conducts his services on Thursday and Friday, while Sunday is meant for those who go to work.

Madzibaba Enoch works with one Madzimai Masikatera who has been on the shrine for 10 years. Masikatera is responsible for welcoming visitors to the shrine.

Bishop Noah Pashapa, a well-known cleric, was savagely attacked recently for his article, “How to identify fake prophets.” Pashapa wrote: “In our times, members have to pay something to see the prophet and are either spiritually threatened, emotionally blackmailed or psychologically bullied to purchase prayed–over church merchandise such as bangles, anointing oil, holy water or towels without which they (congregants) are doomed to failure, poverty and sickness.”

The clergyman further wrote: “Fake prophets who, in reality, are psychic-mediums, sorcerers, fortune tellers, magicians, hypnotists or   charlatans, who now wear suits, read and preach from bibles which makes it difficult to distinguish true Bible-based prophets from false ones.”

The veteran cleric, like many others who dare expose new age prophets, was lampooned and the attack was even extended to other pastors who “are jealous of the flourishing men of God”. Currently, it would appear unjust for any religious blogger to skirt the issue of prophets and miracles; there is no denying that the issue has taken the country by storm. Pastor Charles Charamba, a few weeks ago, in a Sunday paper, chose to go diplomatically about the issue, although his article had a lot of substance.

It is common knowledge that the governing systems of this world rely heavily on numbers to determine that which is ‘right’; the best example of this is seen in the widely used voting system. The rationale of numbers is that the majority represents the will of the people and therefore a reflection of what is ‘correct.’ Against this background, one Murupi, from Botswana wrote to say: “I have devoured most of your writings … but the question that I battle with each time I watch  thousands who fill the stadiums is; ‘Can these millions be wrong?”’

This is quite a brilliant question in light of religious developments across the world. The prophetic and prosperity movements have drawn millions across the world on account of the promises they make. Some people, mesmerised by this new dispensation, have left their traditional churches in droves. The promises which characterise the new charismatic movements are just but too enticing. Imagine being told that you would never experience pain or failure in your life. Imagine being told that whatever happens to you in an accident you would be protected by the prophet’s power, among other such make-believe promises. Naturally, thousands upon thousands have wondered after these promises. Essentially, there is a radical departure from the conventional gospel which rebukes sin and urges the laity towards salvation.

As I highlighted before, the dominant system of this world puts faith in numbers. Now, it is imperative to understand that the kingdom of God has never been about quantity but quality. The earthly system is worlds apart from God’s system. The two are as far apart as the North Pole is to the South Pole. In fact, God’s system runs contrary to the world systems. The bible repeatedly proves that as far as the kingdom of God is concerned, only a handful will be in the right. During Noah’s time, the entire population was wiped off the face of the earth, save for eight people (Genesis7:13). Jesus aptly put it this way, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (Mat 7:13).

Dear friends, the truth is the truth, whether it is spoken by a mad or sane man. The world has witnessed political and religious purging of particular people who represented the truth in minority yet the truth never changed. Those who dare question this new frenzy have been branded enemies of progress or agents of the devil. Those who have tried to show the people true old-time religion have received back-lashes from the ever-defensive followers of this system.

It must be clear that one does not need to be wealthy or in the majority to speak the truth. That millions of people fill stadiums does not make their cause right, any more than a buffalo can become a cow by staying in a cattle herd. Many of these immensely popular clergy, for the record, have been fingered in very unchristian activities the world over and, as usual, they hide behind the guise of the devil targeting them.

Biblically, it would be the majority in the wrong, for, narrow is the way that leads to God’s kingdom and wider is the way that leads to destruction – and it’s the millions who go through it.

Economic decline, high unemployment rate, corruption and the ‘evils’ bedeviling the country could be rescued by three days of massive  prayers and fasting ,the Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP) has suggested.

The country’s economy continues to decline owing to the closure of companies which were providing employment to citizens and revenue to the treasury.

Kissnot Mukwazhi said promises which were given by President Robert Mugabe when he was campaigning for the last election would never be realized adding that politics had failed the nation.

President Robert Mugabe in the run up to the July 31^st 2013 elections promised to create 2.2 million jobs once voted in to power.

But contrary to his election campaign promises the reveres is happening.

Mukwazhi suggested that all these were sins committed by the government which needed prayers for the nation to be forgiven by God,

“We at the Zimbabwe Development Party ZDP are calling for prayer, fasting, and dependence for us to be delivered from the current situation we are in as a country,” Mukwazhi ZDP President told RelZim in Harare.

“It is common that God forgives those who pray and seek deliverance”, he added quoting 2 chronicles 7 verse 14 which says, ‘if my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal the land’.

The politician said failure by the nation to hold such prayers would worsen the economic and political situation.

“We have mineral resources but we give them away for a song. Our industries are closing down day in and day out raising the unemployment rate. Zimbabwe is no longer an attractive tourist destination .The country is now divided, with corruption topping .Service delivery has collapsed and all these need God’s deliverance, ”said Mukwazhi.

Failure by the Mugabe administration to honour his election campaign promises which has resulted in the opposition MDC-T party staging some massive demonstrations has been described by the controversial politician as the signs of the beginning of a civil war in the country

The controversial politician also predicted that civil war would erupt if people do not heed his call for massive prayers.

“Our country is deeply devised; we have allowed politics to take over love for our country. People are robbed of their hard earned money by government systems. The government has become the biblical Herold and the opposition political parties the Judas Iscariot. Hate has overshadowed our nation. Hate has hurt us. Zimbabweans are highly educated, highly skilled and have PHDs, masters’ degrees but all that have failed”, added Mukwazhi.

Ebola,Cholera and other diseases Mukwazhi said had become ‘sword of Damocles threatening our people’.

World religious and political leaders including and President Robert Mugabe were in Italy for Sunday’s beatification of Pope Paul VI at the Vatican.

On Sunday the religious and political leaders with the Roman Catholics had a double mass that marked the end of the Third Extraordinary Synod of Bishops. This culminated in the beautification of Paul V1 by Pope Francis

Beatification in the Catholic Church means declaring somebody to be Holy.

Paul VI was elected Pope on June 21, 1963 and passed away on Aug. 6, 1978. He was the first Pope to travel to five continents, making him the most travelled pope in history at the time.

In 1993 Paul V1 was honored as a servant of God. In 2012 the church elevated him to Venerable

He was beatified after Pope Francis approved a miracle credited to the intercession of Paul V1, (healing of an unborn child) setting him for the next stage for his elevation to blessed one step away from sainthood.

A KADOMA-BASED clergyman, Musa Mtemererwa, was on Friday ordered to pay $80 towards the upkeep of a child that he sired with a woman from his congregation.

Mtemererwa, a pastor at Victory Centre Ministries International of Eastview, was dragged to the Civil Court by his ex-lover Anyway Mazoe over claims he was failing to provide food and clothing for his minor child.

Mazoe told presiding magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba that the man-of-the-cloth was neglecting his child.

In her particulars of claim, Mazoe was demanding $100 for food, $50 for medical and dental aid and a further $50 for clothes.

The pastor told the court he was unable to pay $200 monthly maintenance, stating it was “too much” and offered to pay $50 per month.

The court ordered him to pay $80 maintenance per month until the child attains 18 years of age.

Zimbabwe is largely a Christian community led by a president who is Catholic and we assume that therefore the first family is Catholic.

However recent media reports on the factionalism in the ruling party Zanu PF which is the President’s party does not reflect the Christianity in the First family.

Zimbabweans have expressed concern on the vitriolic attacks on the Vice president and other Zanu PF members by the first Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe.

Zimbabwe has witnessed so much political killings and hate language spewed mostly by politicians that churches have taken it upon themselves to pray and fast for peace especially towards elections of any kind.

Speaking to realzim, most Christians condemned the language that the first lady has used on her “Meet the People tours” and said it threatens peace and does not reflect the holiness she claims.

Amos Gwavava said, “It is sad that we have been exposed to hate language by the only television station we have and it’s even more sad that it is the first lady using this filthy language. The president has said he is a devout Catholic but we now doubt that,” he said

Nyembesi added, “We are shocked by the hate shown by the first lady. We need churches to pray for her and the President. And she even claims to be with the Holy Spirit, the bible says we should love one another.”

Despite the hate language, Amai Mugabe has told the nation that she “speaks in tongues.” Besides claiming to speak in tongues she also said she has the ability to see heavenly visions.

She told pastors at her Mazowe business hub that she was a prayerful woman who was married to a priest.

In Gweru, she said she was ready to spill blood if she was forced out from her Farm that she grabbed from a white family in Mazowe

At another rally she celebrated the death of author Heidi Holland who wrote a book on the President, “Dinner with Mugabe.”

Exodus 20:7 say, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

Going to and coming from Rome for the beatification of Pope John Paul V1, Amai Mugabe publicly refused to shake hands with VP Joice Mujuru (so much of a catholic).

The Lord says pray for your enemies and love them but Amai Mugabe has done the opposite. Instead of unifying the nation, Amai Mugabe is dividing the nation and doing so using the name of God.

A pastor with a local church condemned the acts of Amai Mugabe and urged her to be a good example and reflect that Zimbabwe is largely a Christian country

Joyfull Praise, an upcoming 18-member musical choir consisting of musicians drawn from praise and worship teams from churches dotted around the Midlands capital, will launch their maiden DVD project early next month.

Group founder Gamaliel Blessing Madhindi informs that supporting acts Sharon Manyonganise from ZimPraise, Mabel Madondo (Thousand Voices) Minister Chenge (Beam Of Hope) and other various musical groups will join hands with the gospel ensemble.

Said Gamaliel: “We will bring together most praise and worship/acapella teams from the city. Known recording artists within our group include Rudo Tania Wuragu (Awake) and Adrian Nyangombe from Vocal Offering. Our vision is to promote young people by being a platform that exposes their gifts, as well as giving them something to live for. Joyfull Praise is also here to pluck them from criminal activities associated with mostly, unemployed youths.”

He added: “The LFCC Hall next to Cecil Hotel (3rd Street) is the place to be, come 8 November. Our DVD album will be packed with no less than 20 gospel gems that cut across the language and culture barriers. They include Bayethe (Ndebele), Ngarinamatwe (Shona) What A Mighty God, and Kae le Kae (Suthu), to mention but a few.”
A business management graduate from a Tshwane Institute of Technology in South African, Gamaliel did primary education at Bata, moved to Fletcher for his ‘Os’, and was a Chaplin High school advanced level student. 
Currently establishing ministry with his father Apostle Madhindi of Victory Life Tabernacle, a renowned local cleric, Gamaliel urged his peers to be the best in ‘doing you because no one can do you better than yourself.’
“If God wanted you to be them, He would have made you them – in short, be yourself,” he advised.

Gamaliel is also clean-humour stand-up comedian ‘PlophetOthy’ (Othniel Moyo)’s manager, and they have gone around Gweru giving constructive criticism and promoting a godly way of life via humorous presentations. Read more Gweru news on

As per St Ignatius college culture, it is mandatory that before every public exam season, the exam classes have a day set aside for retreat in order to prepare them not just for the exams but also for the life after high school. Sunday the 12th of October was to be such a day for the A’ level exam classes. The venue was Mutemwa in Mutoko. I was part of the group.

We took-off around 7am in the morning with expectations very high amongst us. Each of us had his/her own anticipations on the unique encounter with God on this blessed day.

Prior to the visit we had run a campaign at the school for food stuffs and money to carry with us as donations to the leprosy centre and the Mother of Peace Children’s home.

The students responded generously and gave some of their food stuffs from their ‘tuck’ and a bit of money which was used to buy more groceries for the Mutemwa residents. Among the food stuffs were cooking oil, mealie meal, sugar, Mazoe orange juice, salt, royco, and stationery.

We had a small challenge on our way as there was a truck that broke down and blocked traffic for about three hours.

I for one was initially taken aback by this thinking that the events of the day would be delayed and the objectives would not be met. I even feared that we would be forced to go back to the school before reaching Mutemwa. God has always a way even where there appears none, our school chaplain who was our guide quickly decided to begin the retreat there on the roadside.

Fr Padya SJ thus gave us a talk on the prayer of the Examen. He explained how this prayer or this exercise can be a good tool for discovering how God is working within our lives on a daily basis and that it makes us seek and find God in all things around us.

We were all encouraged to do this exercise on our 6 years of high school and at the same time looking into the future, the life after high school.

The road was later on cleared and so we managed to proceed with our spirits uplifted. We arrived at Mutemwa in the beginning of the afternoon and Fr Padya SJ quickly arranged a talk on the life history of John Bradburne from one Mr Robert. He gave such a life touching story of a man who had real love for God which he transferred to the lepers. Very inspiring. We then went to the leprosy centre and met the director Mrs Chigwanda and some of the people there.

The pilgrimage ended by the visit to the Mother of Peace Children’s Home, two kilometres from Mutemwa Leprosy centre.

A prophet Abraham Mlazi who raped a “barren” woman seeking prayers to have a child has been jailed.

Mlazi will serve 13years in jail after being sentenced by Chitungwiza magistrate Esthere Chivasa.

The woman was raped by the prophet while seeking prayers to have a child from the ”man of God”.

Abraham Mlazi allegedly told the woman that to be healed of barrenness, she should have sexual intercourse with the prophet, which she refused.

However the court heard that Mlazi forced himself on the young woman by pushing down the young woman who was kneeling for prayers and raped her.

The court was told that after raping the woman, Mlazi allegedly threatened the woman that she would vomit blood for three days if she revealed the matter

In August again Mlazi called the woman again and raped her again prompting her to tell her husband who reported the matter to the police

The Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) will continue to watch the activities of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu apostolic sect in Budiriro to make sure children’s and women’s rights are protected.

ACCZ president Johannes Ndanga told The Zimbabwe Mail in an interview that they were aware the apostolic sect had returned to the shrine which turned into a war zone in May following a botched ban that resulted in the injury of a journalist, an ACCZ elder and five police officers.

Violence broke out on May 30 after Ndanga led a delegation in a bid to ban the sect on allegations there were children’s and women’s rights violations at the shrine.

In response, male members of the sect attacked Ndanga and his entourage while resisting the ban. More than 30 members of the sect are currently on trial over the incident.

Some of the apostolic sect members have claimed they are being persecuted after they rebuffed Ndanga’s overtures for support in Zanu PF’s acrimonious leadership fight for succession ahead
of an elective congress late this year.

Ndanga has poured cold water on the claims and insisted that he could not watch while the rights of the weak in society were being violated.

He said the re-integration of the sect had begun in earnest.

“We are trying to integrate them into mainstream society. We have no problem with them going back to the shrine because the ban was initially meant of 21 days. It was not a lifetime ban. We need to reach out to them and make sure they uphold rights of children who were being abused and denied access to education,” said Ndanga.

“We were also trying to knock sense into them so that they see the light and the folly of their ways. They must allow children to attend school and women to be treated in hospital(s)”.

Ndanga said following the ban, there were consultations and a decision to allow the sect to return had been reached.

“We realised we need to keep an eye on them and the only way was to have them go back to their worshiping place because it would have been difficult to watch them while they are scattered,” said Ndanga.

Vapostori attacking Cops in Budiriro (photo: Newsday)

“We need to be cognisant of the freedom of worship but I must say it is not a licence for idiosyncrasy. These people need to be engaged so that they see sense. The issue of violence is being dealt with by the relevant authorities. It does not make sense to us that the media seems to have chosen to support the abuse of women and children.

“There were gut-wrenching rituals that went on there that we have not told people about and that needs to end, to be stopped somehow.”

Most apostolic sects in Zimbabwe do not allow their members to access education and other social services, such as health, arguing they are “heathen methods” that are against God’s laws and defile “Christians”.

This has led to the unnecessary deaths of children  and mainly expecting mothers who have been subjected to crude methods of child births, according to Ndanga.

Prophet Magaya (photo: B Kanhamora).

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries All Night Prayer

Theme: It’s a night of turn around with prophet W Magaya

Date: 7 November 2014

Time:8PM-6AM

Venue:At the blue shade opposite Zindoga Shops Waterfalls Harare

Psalm 103:3 “Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…”

Its for free

BULAWAYO’s rising Tonga gospel singer Abigail Mwembe has shrugged off alleged marginalisation of her people and language to record a debut live 14-track DVD and CD albums.

The double launch has been pencilled for October 11 at the Bulawayo Theatre in a show dubbed Live DVD recording with Abigail Mwembe. The album is titled Basking in God’s Glory.

Mwembe, who has been silent in the music industry, said she used all her time working on the music project.

The live CD and DVD recording, which is Mwembe’s first ever, will be done by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

“I have been working on this project for some time. I am happy that very soon the project will be out and a great success.

“It comes out after spending some quality time with God through prayers and there is so much that will happen,” she said.

“It has always been my desire to do a live DVD and CD recording at the same time and l am happy that it is finally happening.

“I have realised that l have more strength in live performances and my voice is very good too compared to when l am in the studio.

“Live performances are more favourable than pre-recorded stuff,” she said.

Mwembe said the 14-track album will consist of a mixture of old and latest tracks like Tata Leza and Wabafwifwi.

The singer will feature Hosanna Choir from the Harvest House International and All for Worship from Family of God.

Mwembe also fronts a band called Bayandwa Baleza.

The 33-year-old Mwembe, whose discography includes albums Makabongwe (2001) and Tataleza (2005), is confident that her decade-long experience in the gospel music industry will help make the third album a quality project.

Pastor Emmanuel Makandiwa (photo:M. Chibaya).

RECENT public utterances by Emmanuel Makandiwa of the United Family International Church, backed fellow charismatic preacher, Walter Magaya of theProphetic Healing and Deliverance Church, purported to be a holy vision opposed to mass action against the establishment cannot and should not go unchallenged, for it sets a bad precedent in the fight for emancipation and poverty eradication in the country and Africa in general.

Makandiwa, being a messenger of God, as he claims, through whom the Almighty reveals his secrets to his people, claims to have seen a swarm of bees sweeping out from one end of the forest before being confronted by another, with the tragic end being rivers of blood across the land. Either by coincidence or design, the revelation came within the backdrop of calls by the opposition for mass action against the establishment over the country’s deepening socio-economic and political fortunes. In this regard, Makandiwa, being a man of God occupies a strategic position in society, posted high on the watchtower, guarding society against impending danger.

Regrettably, neither the UFC founder, Magaya nor any of the charismatic prophets that roam this impoverished Southern African state will extricate their thousands of followers, let alone the general populace, from poverty in spite of the high hopes heaped on prosperity theology. Instead, their teaching nurtures and propagates the poverty that the prosperity gospel purports to fight while enriching its founders who have turned into multi-millionaires overnight. In fact, charismatic preachers, Makandiwa included, collude with the establishment to perpetuate poverty, for it is in poverty that prosperity theology flourishes better than in any other environment.

Indeed, there exist a symbiotic relationship between the Mugabe regime and charismatic preachers, implying that Makandiwa, along with Magaya and the other mushrooming prophets, need Mugabe and his establishment in as much as the dictator thrives on them to perpetuate his grip on power, prolonging the suffering of millions, 34 years after independence. Doesn’t Psychology Maziwisa, double as Zanu PF’s deputy director of information as well as being Makandiwa’s spokesperson? And, who claimed recently that Makandiwa is the greatest prophet of all time after Isaiah of the Old Testament? It is one thing for Makandiwa to exercise his freedom of association by being a Zanu PF member and a different scenario altogether for the preacher to collude with the regime in suppressing freedom of expression by the oppressed as evidenced by his dubious vision of bees.

In fact, Makandiwa and Magaya as well as the plethora of marauding prophets who have mushroomed at the height of the country’s socio-economic and political meltdown need Zanu PF for survival in as much as the latter thrives on them to entrench its dictatorship. It is under Mugabe’s dictatorship and poor governance that poverty arises which in turn is exploited by charismatic preachers to draw crowds.  It follows that the appeal of prosperity gospel is diminished once poverty is removed from the equation and without it, charismatic preachers lose a following, hence Makandiwa’s opposition to the gospel of emancipation on the feeble grounds that it results in loss of life and the destabilisation of an already fragile economy.

The preacher thrives on the poverty of his followers to fleece them of the little in their possession. As such the threat to the status quo implied by mass action is viewed as a dangerous precedent by charismatic preachers because it could result in the elimination of the poverty which happens to be the bait that the very preachers rely on to lure congregants. Makandiwa, just like Magaya and others, therefore celebrate poverty that has its roots in dictatorship and poor governance. Indeed, contrary to the notion that prosperity gospel enriches its followers, it actually only enriches its founders while perpetuating the suffering of ordinary congregants who are made to survive on hope.

It is in their material interests that, Makandiwa and other charismatic prophets support a status quo which has reduced millions of innocent souls to paupers. Again, prosperity prophets are insulated from the poverty that ravages the country and threatens the very existence of congregants and that partly explains Makandiwa’s satisfaction with the state of the economy which he doesn’t want to see disturbed by mass action.

And, as if the prophet happens to be Mugabe’s spokesperson, Makandiwa once again gives hope where there none exists by claiming that the country’s hardships would be short-lived as was revealed in another vision.  In the mind-set of the flamboyant prophet, the status quo has to be maintained. That is why these prophets indirectly fighting in Mugabe’s corner to perpetuate the suffering of millions, telling believers that they can survive on miracle money and anointing water which is believed to usher in abundant blessings!

In this gloomy context, it’s no wonder that even the convicted rapist Robert Martin Gumbura of the RMG End Times Ministries joins the bandwagon from his prison, baying for Joice Mujuru’s head, for, in his calculation, and just like Makandiwa and Magaya’s, their unwavering support for Zanu PF isn’t an option but a survival strategy at the expense of the poor they claim to shepherd.

Among their congregants, Makandiwa, Magaya and others need prominent individuals from the impoverished society who have apparently weathered poverty as proof that, in spite of the prevailing hardships, some can prosper, supposedly, through blessings from God, hence the Chiyangwas, Chombos, Matongos and others occupying the VIP seats during church services. The inclusion of such prominent figures during church services is a public relations stunt meant to captivate the hopes of congregants who will dream of becoming rich one day through blessings from anointing water. Really, is Chiyangwa’s wealth, let alone Chombo’s, a result of God’s blessings?

It is no wonder that Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe’s minister of Tourism dreams of transforming the country into a religious tourist destination along the model of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, for, in charismatic prophets, the regime senses a lucrative source of wealth that can be tapped to entrench its grip on power in as much as prosperity preachers need Mugabe to perpetuate poverty so as to make their gospel appealing, hence, the symbiotic relationship.  Likewise, politicians need these flamboyant preachers not only for influence among congregants but for financial support.  It would not surprise many to realise that some of these prophets bankroll the regime in return for favours.

On the other hand, Mugabe needs the Makandiwas and Magayas for strategic reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with religion. Prosperity gospel, as propounded by charismatic preachers has, among other effects, the power of diverting the attention of congregants from focussing on the genesis of their demise to peripheral issues. Makandiwa and Magaya strive to give their followers the impression that they are poor economically because they have lost favour with God. In other words, congregants need to rekindle their lost relationship with God to be showered with blessings and, at best, through tithing.

In fact, what prosperity preachers conceal is the fact that Zimbabweans are poor, not because of their laziness, or because they are non-believers who deserve the scourge of a curse from God; rather the genesis of the country’s poverty lies in poor governance. In this regard, to eradicate poverty among millions of impoverished Zimbabweans, there is an urgent need to address the underlying causes behind the country’s demise – factors that implicate Mugabe whom Makandiwa shields.

Prosperity gospel does not address the underlying causes behind poverty in Zimbabwe, and Africa in general, but instead focuses on individuals’ failure to establish close ties with God through giving, and by so doing, diverts the attention of victims from the bread and butter issues that shape their lives. In this way, religion becomes a sort of spiritual booze.  Mugabe needs Makandiwa and Magaya to perpetuate this gospel of diversion in the same way the incumbent thrives on the sanctions mantra.

Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso was overthrown by mass action by the oppressed because they are aware that their poverty is rooted in poor governance as opposed to a curse from God as Makandiwa would like his congregants to believe.  Instead, it is the looted diamonds of Chiadzwa, contrary to miracle gold/diamonds or the anointing water that enriches the impoverished millions in the country. Surprisingly, as diamonds are looted at Chiadzwa by Mugabe and his cronies, Magaya and Makandiwa are silent, only to emerge from hibernation when there is threat of mass action against the regime.

Indeed, the prophet’s $300,000 Mercedes Benz that he drives is not acquired through miracle money; neither is it a product of anointing water. In any case, why would the prophet acquire a gold milling plant in Mutawatawa from the Chinese, if rumours that circulate in the media are anything to go by, if gold or diamonds can rain from the sky like manna?  By preaching the gospel of subjugation through dubious visions and giving hope where there isn’t, Makandiwa and others collude with Mugabe in perpetuating not only poverty but oppression as well, thus rendering the prosperity message contradictory.

It is worth noting that in Africa where poverty is a part of life, religion has become more of a lucrative business enterprise than a calling. Zimbabwe’s dire socio-economic and political crisis provides fertile ground for the mushrooming of charismatic preachers and it is no coincidence that the Makandiwas and Magayas emerged during this crisis. This is not a unique phenomenon but a common feature worldwide where high unemployment, rising inflation and the emergence of diseases such as Ebola and AIDS wreak havoc. Even in the US where prosperity theology originated, the gospel gained traction with the black community who happened to be the poorest in society.  The message by charismatic preachers gives hope to the hopeless and feeds the hungry spiritually but it is unable to fill their tummies.

Regrettably, congregants are made to pursue the wrong medicine through perverse diagnosis that doesn’t help their plight. In this way, Makandiwa and Magaya follow in the footsteps of David Oyedepo of the Winners’ Chapel Movement who is estimated to be worth £93 million and runs a fleet of private jets. As Leo Igwe of Nigeria Humanist Movement argues, these churches are “big business being managed by entrepreneurs” and, as he observes, “it is a result of poverty, social and economic collapse. Nigerians have become desperate, and gullible, and these churches service this market.’’

In England, interesting to note that most congregants in these churches are almost entirely made up of black people, especially West Africans but surprisingly, they happen to be the poorest in society. Where is the prosperity that these charismatic preachers propagate when its followers languish in poverty except its founders who have the luxury of acquiring a fleet of private jets? Does Makandiwa believe that anyone takes him seriously when he claims that his fortune arises from trading shares at the London Stock Exchange?

It is important to realise that in spite of the rapid growth of prosperity churches in many parts of Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where poverty has increased in the past 25 years. In this regard, according to statistics, prosperity theology isn’t bringing prosperity at all to the continent but instead sows poverty. It’s a flawed teaching that flourishes in contexts of terrible poverty, and that for many people, represents their only hope in the face of frustration, the failure of politicians and NGOs to create a better future or even a bearable present.

On a lighter note, as one observer concluded, for young, healthy, anxious strivers who need reinforcement in the face of discouragement, the prosperity gospel is a much less harmful way of escaping the world than either drugs or gambling and it will not make them nearly as poor as those do, even if it never makes them rich. In  the developed world, where citizens are empowered economically, they don’t rely on  the powers of miracles as is the case in Makandiwas’ make-believe world but on scientific knowledge and good governance which  ensures  that  governments are accountable to their people in contrast to Makandiwa’s opposition to mass action  against Mugabe.

In the same way, Rome was not built on miracles and neither was Qatar transformed from a barren desert into the richest country on the planet today by prosperity theology, Africa cannot be an exception to have its own unique developmental pattern. Never in a million years will poverty be eradicated in Zimbabwe by the teachings of the Makandiwas, for all they do is divert the attention of victims from the real causes behind their demise into pursuing the peripheral. It’s synonymous to the folly of the proverbial man who leaves his house in flames to pursue a rat fleeing from it. What are our dreams; miracle diamonds/gold to transform the country’s battered fortunes as the Makandiwas urge or a direct confrontation with the establishment in opposition to the prophet’s vision of bees? Indeed, the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

A CHITUNGWIZA man and his wife appeared in court on Wednesday after they allegedly withdrew their two children from school, claiming the country’s education system was not in sync with their apostolic sect beliefs.

Clifford Sharamba (46) and his wife Grace (35) appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Lazarus Murendo on charges of contravening section 7(1) of the Children’s Act Chapter 5.06 (ill-treatment or neglect of children or young persons).

The couple was remanded in custody to November 14 for trial.

Prosecutor Zuvarashe Mushayabasa told the court that in May 2013, the suspects withdrew their two daughters aged 13 (Form One ) and seven years (Grade 2) from school on religious grounds.

The court heard that Clifford’s brother, Stancilous Sharamba, and his father-in-law later took the children into their custody and resumed sending them to school.

On October 25 this year, Grace allegedly went to collect the children from Stancilous’ house saying she wanted to spend the weekend with them and promised to bring them back later that same day.

Three days later, Grace allegedly claimed that her husband had taken the children away and she was not aware where he had hidden them.

This prompted the couple’s relatives to report the matter to the police, leading to the pair’s arrest.

LEADER of the Abundant Life Global Ministries (ALGM), Bishop Danmore Magorimbo, yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court charged with raping one of his congregants in the name of cleansing her of evil spirits transmitted into her body by her husband.

After allegedly raping the woman, Magorimbo (45) is also alleged to have solicited the help of his intercessor, co-accused Leeshalow Kambiro (27), to ask the woman to accept, rejoice and celebrate her cleansing since she had been highly favoured “by God just like the Biblical Mary”.

Both men were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare magistrate Milton Serima, who remanded them in custody to November 11.

The State alleges that sometime in April this year at the church’s premises at 1 Hampden Road in Belvedere, Magorimbo approached the woman who was in the prayer room and invited her to his office claiming he wanted to conduct a cleansing ceremony to drive away her evil spirits.

In the office, Magorimbo allegedly misrepresented to the woman that her husband transmitted evil spirits into her body each time they had sex.

It is alleged, Magorimbo then had sex with the woman to “exorcise her”.

The following day, the court heard, Magorimbo called the woman in the presence of Kambiro and again raped her inside his office.

After the act, Kambiro allegedly warned her against doing anything that would bring harm to the man of God even to try and manipulate him in any way given what had transpired.

The woman, however, spilled the beans to other congregants, leading to the two men’s arrest.

Popular preacher and founder of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD), Walter Magaya, has opened up for the first time about his life and ministry since he faced allegations of adultery earlier in the year.

In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with the Daily News yesterday, ahead of his birthday today, the modest preacher chose not to speak directly about the damaging claims, but said humbly that the devil would “always strive to disturb the work of God”, adding that all the accusations that he had faced had not been substantiated.

“There is no testimony without test. There is no way we can be where we are without being tested,” Magaya said, in apparent reference to the adultery claims that were levelled against him by Harare resident Denford Mutashu.

Mutashu later withdrew his claims and confessed openly in church, after withdrawing his court action.

Magaya said all the difficulties he had faced had given him crucial life lessons, adding that his detractors allowed him to grow both spiritually and as a human being.

He said because of all these difficult life lessons, he had now written a book titled Theme of the Heart, which is set for launch tomorrow.

Quizzed over the fact that his church has courted controversial figures such as Beverly “Bev” Sibanda, Magaya said the Word of God was open to all people and this is what kept the church going strong.

“If David had killed a small man, he would never be in the Bible. I strongly believe challenges make us who we are,” he said.

Asked why he always appeared to live modestly, he said this was how he aspired to live his life as he understood that he was still human despite the tens of thousands of people who flocked to his church weekly.

Magaya emphasised that fame was also not something that one had to carry in one’s head.

“I am a man of God and not God of man,” the humble preacher said, during the interview at his Waterfalls church in Harare, while making preparations for the massive all-night prayer scheduled for tomorrow where it is estimated up to 300 000 people will attend.

Magaya does not drive a state-of-the-art car and neither does he dress like a flamboyant businessman — consciously choosing to snub designer clothes and shoes for cheap tracksuits and sandals.

Magaya said if a person was popular and influential in society, that person was obliged “to keep his head down”.

“If I am a prophet and become very popular, I have to make sure that I stay composed. Right now, I even have to control my movements. I was walking in the city today and at least two people collapsed and fainted on meeting me.  Large crowds of people follow me, some wanting me to lay my hands on them.

“So I avoid walking in crowded areas like the city centre because I end up causing unnecessary commotion and people might get hurt. That is why I prefer to spend most of my time at church, meeting people there,” said the charismatic preacher.

Born in Mhondoro Ngezi, Magaya, who says he still has time for his family despite a hectic schedule, said he started his ministry in 1998 when he first received Jesus in his life.

During the time, he was in the Roman Catholic Church together with a charismatic group called Blood of the Lamp Christian Community (BLCC). He also lived in Chitungwiza then.

“I was very young. I started developing myself bit by bit,” he said.

He later moved to Mabvuku and discovered that he had a gift of prophecy in 2003.

He said all his efforts to venture into business flopped, until he went to Nigeria in 2009, where he visited TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations.

TB Joshua was later to become Magaya’s spiritual father.

Magaya said when he went to Nigeria, he had 80 business proposals and his mission was to get advice from the man of God on the kind of business he could venture into successfully.

“I ventured from one business to another and I tried almost every project. I tried venturing into the kombi business, butcheries, shops and all forms of businesses you can think of but it was not my calling.”

Magaya said the turning point was when TB Joshua prophesied to him that he was not a businessman, but was a gifted prophet.

“Prophet TB Joshua also gave me some anointing oil and that is how I managed to start a ministry in 2011, which initially had less than 40 congregants.

“Last year, the ministry started to grow, and we moved to 100, 200, 500 and that’s when my colleagues from BLCC advised me to move to a more spacious venue.

“This time last year, we were on 5 000 people but now we get as much as 80 000 to our Sunday service and when we have special days like Big Sunday we get even more than 200 000 people,” Magaya said.

Voted as the 2014 most influential person below the age of 40, Magaya, has now even managed to launch a television station, Yadah Television; has assisted more than 5 000 families; and has donated houses to several people this year.

Each time he holds conferences, the charismatic preacher has managed to draw tens of thousands of people from across Zimbabwe, and this year he drew some of the biggest crowds ever seen at church congregations and has managed to spread his missions to Bulawayo and Mutare.

Asked whether he was a fake prophet out to milk money from people and whether he used juju in his healing ministry as his detractors allege,

Magaya laughed this off saying that almost 98 percent of the people who came to his church also had the same misconception at some point.

“I expected that question because it is popular with some people. The problem with some people is that they judge from outside. Sometimes when you visit, your heart will convince you that God is alive and indeed God is alive,” he said.

And on the use of juju, he said, “Juju does not heal, juju does not perform miracles. It is God who performs miracles  using people like us. At PHD, God heals through the ministry.

“The good thing about us is that we encourage doubters to come for one service and they will go home believers. This is why I say 98 percent of the people who attend this ministry came as doubters”.

Responding to a question regarding whether his church was some form of a personal money-making business, based on its teachings of prosperity, Magaya said there was nothing bad about preaching prosperity.

“In my ministry if you look at our teachings they are about empowering people to be entrepreneurs. The gospel of Jesus Christ was of prosperity, his first teachings was ‘I have come to preach to the poor, empower those that have not been empowered’.

“How do we empower people? Someone comes with a problem which needs urgent attention and is maybe charged $20 000 at hospital but when he or she is healed here, they will have saved the money. So, who would have been empowered with $20 000, the ministry or the healed person?” he asked.

Asked if he considered himself to be a rich person, Magaya said, “I am rich enough to give”.

He said he always endeavoured to remain with 10 percent of what he got and to distribute the other 90 percent.

Magaya is married to Tendai and the couple has two children, Yadah Makanaka and Walter Junior.

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD) founder Prophet Walter Magaya all-night prayer dubbed the night of “turn around”, held in Waterfalls last Friday drew over 300 000 people from Zimbabwe and across the region making it one of the biggest crowds ever witnessed in the country

Thousands of people filled the chairs provided at the open air spaces at the event, with people occupying the areas between Waterfalls Falls then across Mukuvisi to Highfield.The Gorindemabwe Frontier voted Magaya as the country’s most influential person under the age of 40 for 2014.

Magaya’s all night service was also a blessing to vendors as it brought with it brisk business for the locals, who were selling foodstuffs, while transport operators smiled all night. They went back and forth ferrying thousands of people.

Speaking to the press  before his much anticipated preaching, Magaya, said he was amazed at the large crowd.“I have never seen anything like this. Last year we only had a gathering of 5 000 people but just look at the crowd now,” he said.

Magaya  said the work of the Almighty had made the all night prayer a success.

“I understand there are people from as far as Australia, United Kingdom, it’s all so humbling for me. People are hungry for the word,” he said shaking his head while his eyes swept the crowd.expecting such a huge crowd.

Many miracles kept happening, as demons manifested in his presence throughout the night. The lame were walking, as they could be seen raising their clutches. Magaya later read from  the book of Esther 7 verse 10. Several prominent artistes and some government officials also graced the all night. Some of the notable figures that attended the event were Zanu PF politburo member Tendai Savanhu and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority boss Karikoga Kaseke. Chimurenga musician Bryn Mteki was also part of the congregation.

Dancehall musician Obey Makamure aka Tocky Vibes, surprised many  as they substituted their secular lyricsto suit the church message.

Gospel artistes Sebastian Magacha, Mathias Mhere,Agatha Murudzwa and South African’s Benjamin Dube, performed at the event.

The State-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation was beaming the event live

HARARE - As Zanu PF’s escalating factional and succession wars turn increasingly violent — with the country’s economy once again teetering on the brink — embattled Vice President Joice Mujuru yesterday implored Zimbabweans to pray for their country and for peace.

Mujuru, a devout member of the Salvation Army, has of late come under a sustained and brutal attack from her political enemies in the ruling party, including First Lady Grace Mugabe who has openly and stunningly called for her ouster, accusing the VP of working to topple President Robert Mugabe, corruption, fanning factionalism in Zanu PF and gross ineptitude among a litany of other allegations.

Only two weeks ago, youths bussed into Harare mainly from the Midlands, lampooned Mujuru right in front of Mugabe, who did not take any measure to shield his party and government number two from the drunken yobs.

Speaking guardedly and confining her address mostly to matters of religion at the official handover of land to the Salvation Army by the minister of Labour Nicholas Goche in Shamva yesterday, Mujuru said Zimbabwe was currently facing many challenges that required the Church’s urgent intervention.

“Vesangano mune basa (The Church has a huge task on its hands),” she said, adding that people in Harare, for example, lived in walled and gated houses not out of choice and style, but as a futile attempt to keep marauding thieves away.

Turning to the subject of leadership, she said cryptically that this came with responsibility, entailing leading by example.

“Tinofunga kuti kana waita mutungamiriri, waita councillor, waita sabhuku zvokwira zvakadaro unenge uchitarisirwa kupa dzidziso kune vanhu vakasiyana siyana (When you become a leader people look up to you as an individual to lead by example),” Mujuru said.

The widowed VP, who until now has been seen as the frontrunner to succeed 90-year-old Mugabe, also said educated people in the country should not use their intellectual skills to destroy the country but must instead focus on development.

Analysts have praised Mujuru for keeping her counsel in the face of extreme provocation by her party rivals. While her political foes have gone beserk in their propaganda against her over the past few months, she has laudably kept her cool, choosing to soldier on quietly notwithstanding the well-calculated smear campaigns in the State media.

A week ago, Mugabe and the ruling party’s politburo ordered the setting up of an inquiry into the factionalism devouring the party, with Mujuru and her main rival Emmerson Mnangagwa both fingered by the nonagenarian as the leaders of the factions.

As she spoke at yesterday’s function, she said it was crucial for people to respect each other.

“We cannot respect a God we have not seen when we cannot respect each other. We were created in his own image. It delights the Lord to see his people living in peace,” Mujuru said.

Quoting the Bible extensively, Mujuru said the Church was there to help people live peacefully together and to mould God-fearing citizens.

She also said that people should generally not be afraid of the living, but of the All Mighty God, who saw everything that took place under the sun.

“Ndozvatauyira pano kuti tidzorwe munzira dzedu dzisinakururama, tidzorwe mukuita kwedu, mumatauriro, mafambiro nemagariro edu, pavepo nerugare munyika yedu yakafirwa, yakasunungurwa nevapenyu nevakaenda, tibatsire vatungamiriri vedu kuti runyararo rwuripo rwuve runyararo rwechokwadi (We are here for this Church gathering to be guided by God and the Church so that we behave ourselves, speak well and live well, so that there will be peace in the country that many people sacrificed their lives for),” said Mujuru.

Mujuru’s pleas yesterday follow recent warnings by economists and Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo that the country’s battered economy is the biggest casualty of the protracted and ugly wars wreaking havoc within Zanu PF.

Gumbo, one of only two remaining members of the Dare ReChimurenga council that directed the liberation war, said last week that the factional fights were causing “unprecedented levels of tension within the party with the result that our focus has shifted from our core business as the party of government”.

With the majority of Zimbabweans living on less than a dollar a day, and social services such as health bogged down by strikes and serious underfunding, Gumbo said it was now time that the ruling party addressed the pressing economic challenges facing the country.

“The time has come to redirect that focus back to our main purpose and to ensure that we chart the best economic way forward for the Zimbabwean people in line with our election pledges and consistent with the aspirations of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation (ZimAsset),” he said.

In a rare admission by a senior member of the ruling party of the many crises bedevilling the country, Gumbo said it was an open secret that “many of our people are struggling to make ends meet as the current economic climate, exacerbated by years of damaging economic sanctions, takes its toll”.

Referring to the current economic situation as “desperate”, Gumbo said it was time “for an urgent change of priorities”, warning that Mugabe’s legacy was also at stake.

“Anyone who seeks to push personal and factional interests at a time like this, where millions of our people are suffering and many investors are sitting on the fence pursuing a wait-and-see-approach, is not only selfish, insensitive and on the wrong side of history, but is also tarnishing the good name of the party and drawing unnecessary hatred towards the same.

“This is not only detrimental to our future electoral prospects but has the real danger of tarnishing president Mugabe’s otherwise splendid reputation and legacy,” Gumbo said.

Economic analysts also warned Mugabe and his misfiring government last week that Zanu PF’s increasingly violent factional and succession wars would sink Zimbabwe’s ailing economy to levels witnessed five years ago, unless they acted decisively now.

Respected economist John Robertson told the Daily News that the economy would persist on a downward spiral unless the country resolved its succession problem urgently.

“The people who are supposed to be directing and implementing policy are currently channelling their energies elsewhere. Under normal circumstances, we would expect the president to make strong decisions to deal with this, but unfortunately for the economy no decision has been made,” he lamented.

Robertson also said unless Mugabe made it clear soon when he would be retiring or who his preferred successor would be, uncertainty would continue to haunt the economy.

Mugabe, turning 91 soon, is the only leader that Zimbabweans have had since independence in 1980. Despite his advanced age and failing health, he has vowed to see through his current term which expires in 2018 — when he will be 95 then.

As it is, Mugabe is both Africa’s oldest leader and one of the continent’s longest ruling. In his 34 years in power, South Africa has had seven leaders, Zambia six, Malawi five, Botswana four and Mozambique four.

Economist Christopher Mugaga said the acrimony playing out in the governing party did not augur well for the country, both politically and economically.

“Statements made by people who are expected to unite a nation are more dangerous than their actions,” he said, adding that the economy was always the first casualty in the kind of anarchy that was being experienced in Zimbabwe.

“If there are issues and problems there must be a way to address them, instead of washing dirty linen in public. During the Government of National Unity there were channels that the prime minister and president used to address their differences, but more often than not never in public. This gave investors confidence about our country and to come here. As a result the economy benefited,” Mugaga said.

Even the International Monetary Fund warned last week that Zimbabwe’s economy was at a crossroads.

“The economic situation remains difficult. The post-hyperinflation rebound has ended. Gross Domestic Product growth decelerated from 10,5 percent in 2012 to 4,5 percent in 2013, due to adverse weather conditions, weak demand for key exports, and election-year uncertainty,” the IMF said.

The Bretton Woods institution said the outlook in 2014 was for continued low growth of about three percent.

“The external position is precarious, with low international reserves, a large current account deficit, an overvalued real exchange rate, and growing external arrears. Credit and deposit growth have slowed down sharply, liquidity conditions are tight, and the banking system remains weak.

“Fiscal pressures arose in early 2014 due to higher-than-budgeted wage increases and revenue shortfalls as the economy weakened,” the IMF added.