BUSINESS at the on-going 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) came to a standstill after a pastor who recently made headlines for reportedly dishing anointed condoms visited the Condomize exhibition stand to explain the incident.

Pastor Paul Sanyangore stirred a passionate debate after he reiterated that condom messages should be preached in church “because people were dying of AIDS”.

Sanyangore however, made it clear that he did not dish out anointed condoms but only prayed for a single lady who had brought her condoms to church as she believed his prayers would assist in her situation.

“I didn’t bring condoms to church,” he said.

“But I was faced with this difficult scenario. It was during a church service and at prayer time this other lady brought her condoms for me to pray for them.

“She has been separated from her husband for two years and she wanted me to pray for them so that it would not be a problem to convince her husband that they had to protect themselves as they had been separated for too long.”

However, the debate became an emotional with some among the gathered crowd accusing him of promoting promiscuity while others praised him.

There was also disapproval from panellists from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, government and condom marketing circles who said his actions were misleading.

However, Sanyangore defended himself saying the church was the best place to preach the “safe sex gospel”.

“I am only 30 and, at my age, I have buried more than ten people who succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses.

“I’m so much privileged to preach that gospel because I meet over 5,000 people during my church services so there is no better opportunity than that. It is congregant who are dying so why not preach about condoms, HIV and safe sex in church.”

He added, “I however, encourage people who are not married to abstain from sex, not to use condoms.

“Condoms address the physical side but HIV is spiritual if you deny that it’s the same as silencing us to say the things that affect us most.

“I address the spiritual side because that’s where my expertise is. If we keep quiet as pastors more people will die.”

Sanyangore reportedly prayed for condoms during a recent service at his church.

Prophet Magaya (photo: B Kanhamora).

PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya yesterday made a surprise visit at his perceived rival Emmanuel Makandiwa of the United Family International Church (UFIC)’s main service at the City Sports Centre in Harare, where he announced his wish for a joint church service for members of the two ministries.

Magaya, who received a standing ovation, told Makandiwa’s followers that his mission was to express his gratitude for the latter’s role in pioneering the prophetic ministry in Zimbabwe and demystifying myths that the two charismatic leaders were sworn enemies.

Both Makandiwa and Magaya have proved to be crowd pullers, with thousands of congregants attending their Sunday and midweek services.

Magaya holds his services along Simon Mazorodze Road in Waterfalls, where he has built a massive church complex.

“I have never attended any other church service in my life in the past few years, but today, I am so glad to be here. My flight was getting delayed while I was in South Africa and I was only praying that I make it before the church service was over and pleaded with the man of God to wait for me when I landed,” Magaya, who had just flown in from South Africa on his way from Nigeria, said.

“Five years back, I used to come in here and I would sit at the top back of Bay 6, and I would listen with amazement and wonder of the gift that Zimbabwe has in Prophet Makandiwa. While the nation could not accept you and fought you, you stood fast and fought the battles on our behalf. You did not leave the nation at the time you were being persecuted and ridiculed by many people, but you had the choice to simply quit and leave Zimbabwe with your gift, but that was not so.”

Makandiwa later asked his followers to pray for Magaya and his ministry, adding he was always in contact with the PHD Ministries leader.

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday the 8^th of December, marking the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Following him after he walked through the doorway was a frail Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI (88 years), whose resignation in 2013 resulted in the election of Pope Francis’.

More than 10 million pilgrims are expected to pass through the bronze door, which is usually sealed, during the 12-month period. This jubilee year calls on Catholics to reflect on the theme of mercy.

Holy doors will also be opened at cathedrals around the world starting Sunday, for the first time during a Jubilee of Mercy. The pope celebrated a special Mass in St. Peter’s Square before an estimated 50,000 people.

Leading the crowd in prayer, he said: “You cannot conceive of a true Christian who is not merciful, just as you cannot conceive of God without his mercy. Mercy is the key word of the Gospel. … We should not be afraid: We should allow ourselves to be embraced by the mercy of God, who waits for us and forgives everything.”

Pope Francis also asked the throngs of people to send their prayers for Pope Emeritus Benedict’s “good health,” and the crowd responded with cheers.

The last jubilee was in 2000, under St. John Paul II. The jubilee is usually marked every 25 years and many expected the next jubilee to begin in 2025, but the pope can call for an “extraordinary” jubilee.

The pope technically launched the jubilee in the Central African Republic last week, when he opened the Holy Door of the cathedral in the capital Bangui during his historic visit to Africa.

On Tuesday night to mark the occasion, a coalition of humanitarian groups will project images of nature by well-known photographers and filmmakers on the facade of St. Peter’s. The images are inspired by climate change, fauna and human dignity.

St Stephen’s Catholic Church Dzivaresekwa recently witnessed numerous catechumens drawn from Holy Name Parish (Mabelreign), St Ignatius Centre, St Augustine Centre and lastly, St. Stephen’s Church for the sacrament of confirmation by His Grace Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Harare.

The church hall was filled to capacity, with the archbishop presiding and concelebrating were the parish priest, Fr. George Bwanali, and Fr. Horst Ulbrich SJ and Fr. Oskar Wermter SJ.

The Archbishop reminded the catechumens to be models of virtue within the leadership structures of the parish and the church at large and to work without fear for rightful causes.

He thanked the parish priest, Fr. Bwanali SJ together with the two companions for undertaking great meaningful service to the church in bringing and unifying the faithful to Christ.

He also made special mention to the laity for attending and celebrating the Holy Mass as well as the unwavering support and care they were giving to the priests. He encouraged the faithful to work for the priests and continue praying for them.

On Saturday the 21st of November 2015, hundreds of people turned up for a Cultural Night celebration which was hosted by Arrupe College.

Guests feasted on traditional foods from seventeen different African countries. The hall was packed with people of all backgrounds – Catholics and non-Catholics alike, coming together to share their diversity. Outfits ranged from the traditional West African prints to the local “chitenge” (Zambia) apparels.

It was an evening of talent show, with traditional performances by different groups from all over Africa, some from as far afield as Rwanda, Burundi, Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi and Zimbabwe. The Arrupe College Karate team also took the opportunity to showcase their skills.

One would reminisce that Africa is indeed a rich continent, with languages, cultures, and religions. What was particularly striking is the fundamental thinking of a people gathered to celebrate diversity in peace. We all wish our diversity would be a point of celebration and not division, as noted in some countries where tribes, race, religions and sex have been centers of fighting.

IN PRISON, cigarettes are equal to cash and they are often used as bride price for men attracted to other men, a State witness testifying against nine inmates charged with attempting to flee from prison said in Harare Monday.

Claudius Mutizwa, also a convict, said this during cross examination by prosecutor Michael Reza when he winded up his evidence.

Mutizwa’s claims come a month after he revealed that cleric Robert Martin Gumbura, who is serving 40 years for rape, smuggled 960 bricks of cigarettes into Chikurubi Maximum Prison with the help of some prison officials.

He told court that Gumbura was not a smoker and that he never saw him smoking even once.

“Gumbura became relevant because of the cigarettes he smuggled,” said the witness. “In prison, cigarettes are regarded as currency and are mainly used by homosexuals to buy favours.  You can also buy meat or bread using cigarettes in prison so cigarettes are highly important.”

Gumbura is the founder of Independent End Time Message church and was convicted after he was found guilty on several rape charges involving minors and women of his congregation.

Mutizwa said no man of god can be convicted for such cases, adding that his conclusion was that Gumbura was a heathen.

“The God that I believe in does not allow men to have sex with women without their consent. Only Satanists can do that,” he said.

Previously, Mutizwa told the court that Gumbura was the prison’s Godfather. He said the cleric supplied cigarettes, jolly juice and maputi to all prisoners, adding that some prison officials were even getting groceries.

According to Mutizwa, Gumbura did this to buy allegiance and effect the jail break. The state witness claimed that Gumbura was acting in common purpose with ex­-vice president, Joice Mujuru and former army captain and coup plotter, Albert Matapo.

Gumbura and other eight inmates are being charged with attempting to escape from lawful custody, assaulting and resisting law officers and also damaging prison property.

The nine are alleged to have incited a food riot which resulted in five inmates losing their lives early last year. The trial will continue Tuesday with the state expected to bring its second witness to testify against the nine.

Mutizwa has been testifying for over four months with at least 23 more witnesses still to take the stand.

OUTSPOKEN clergyman Bishop Ancelimo Magaya says there is indisputable evidence of leadership vacuum in Zimbabwe as the socio­economic crisis deepens.

In apparent reference to the political leadership, Magaya quoted Matthew 5 vs 13 from the Bible which says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

The Zimbabwe Divine Destiny (ZDD) leader was addressing journalists in Harare Monday.

“What started as a blame game between different sections of the society has manifested itself as a responsibility on the shoulders of the leadership we have in this country.

“Where is the saltiness of the leadership, labour, civil society and the media? Is God not going to judge us for failing to respond with swiftness to the crisis that has bedevilled our nation,” said Bishop Magaya.

The cleric said Zimbabwe has ceased to be a place of happiness as things are getting worse with fewer solutions in sight.

He lamented house demolitions by the Harare City Council, civil servants’ salary delays, drought and police brutality as innocent citizens seek to express themselves through peaceful demonstrations.

Magaya said neither sanctions nor climate change was to blame for the current crisis but poor leadership.

He urged Zimbabweans and the church to rise up and condemn the prevailing “evil” for what it is.

Magaya, who is also the Zimbabwe National Agreement Platform leader, gave an ultimatum to the country’s leadership on civil servants’ salaries, house demolitions and the vendors’ situation, saying all these problems had to be dealt with immediately.

He said government should declare a national state of disaster due to drought that has caused untold suffering to both people and the animals.

He, however, urged Zimbabweans to remain peaceful and continue working and fighting to conquer their problems as, “God would protect them.”

The question rang in my mind after watching several people being exorcised of demons by modern-day men of the cloth. If it were a dance I would have described it as well choreographed. There are many things that are puzzling in the sequences when the demons are supposedly chucked out.
The first puzzling thing is that all the demons speak in English as they respond to the men of cloth who also use the same language (I am talking about Africa here). Are we to understand that these demons are so recent that they speak modern English or is it that all demons we see are of English-speaking origins? They do not speak old English by the way, but English as it is currently spoken as if they want their international audience to understand them.

Those who have studied English know how it has evolved. For example, the English spoken and written during Chaucer’s time is very different from that spoken and written in Shakespeare’s time. And by the same token, Shakespeare and his contemporaries’ English is different from that spoken and written in our time.

Perhaps, the men of cloth are so powerful that they enable the demons to speak in modern day English.

However, what is more puzzling is that the demons speak in the original voice of the possessed with their full accents betraying the fact that they are not from the English. One supposed demon that had possessed a female congregant shouted in the high pitched feminine voice of the supposedly possessed: “I am a man, I don’t want her to stay with another man! She is mine!” So much for a male demon to speak like a woman. Maybe it is gender equality among the demons.

I have also noticed that these so called demons are very disciplined. They know their time in church. They do not manifest at any other time except when it is time for demons to be cast out. They are very patient as they only wait to manifest when they are given the cue that it is their time to perform as it were.

They also do not perform haphazardly as is expected of evil spirits; they wait in a sort of queue until their turn comes. They offer a modicum of violence for the international audiences as if they know they are going to be beamed live on television. They are also careful not to attack the cameramen nor to damage their cameras as if they reason that to do that would make people across the globe miss out on their performances.

These demons also know the use of a microphone. They wait for the man of cloth to ask them questions and before they respond, they wait for the acolytes to put the microphones close to their mouths or they automatically move their mouths towards the microphones. They do not want the television audiences to miss any word of their supposed confessions pertaining to their so-called evil deeds. All this happens under controlled hysteria, they are careful not to get out of hand. Perhaps it is the man of cloth’s power that keeps them under check.

And the demons love women. The bulk of the “possessed” people are women. This gives the impression that these English-speaking evil spirits target women more than men. Or is it that women are more vulnerable to demons than men? This gives me the impression of traditions dying hard; traditionally, witches were mostly women.

But whatever the case, these disciplined demons give the men of cloth the platform to showcase their supernatural powers as they supposedly cast out these evil spirits. And the cameras allow the men of cloth’s powers to be beamed worldwide. Because the demons now speak in the same language, it makes the work of the men of cloth easier as they can now travel to other countries to converse live with the demons with no fear of language barriers before they cast them out since they have universalised the use of English.

Maybe since demons are spirits, they can speak in any language they fancy for the benefit of the audience. Unlike the demons we were taught about in school and at home, the modern day ones are disciplined, intelligent and understanding making the work of those who cast them out easier. Who knows? Maybe they also watch their performances on television after being cast out.

The Church in Marondera is appealing for food and clothing assistance from well-wishers for a family whose home was destroyed by lightening last week.

Network of Christian Charity Arrows a local church grouping has  teamed up with Marondera’s ward 8 councillor , Stanslus Tsvetu, and  Wedza North legislator,  David Musabayana, in an appeal in which they are soliciting for  food, clothes and blankets to assist the family.

The appeal comes after the Chimhara family of Kofe Farm in Marondera had their entire property destroyed by lightning which struck their home twice in a space of two days, leaving them staying in the open.

The family  had their bedroom struck last Sunday while the kitchen where they had put all their property which was recovered from the earlier strike, was also hit on a Tuesday.

Mrs Vimbai Chimhara said up to now, she is yet to understand what really transpired.

Touched by the plight of the family, local churches have joined Network of Christian Charity Arrows and pledged to assist the family to construct new houses at their new site as they have decided to relocate to another place fearing another attack.

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches says they are assessing the levels of hunger in the country with the intention of approaching donors for the assistance of most needy.

Hunger has reached alarming levels in most parts of the country with Masvingo and Chipinge being hardest hit.

In Masvingo there are reports that even donkeys are dying with people resorting to wield fruits for survival.

In Chipenge the price of cattle has gone down to as low as $30 with people losing their wealth for survival.

Gabriel Mangangadze the acting Zimbabwe Council of Churches General Secretary said they are on the ground assessing the gravity of hunger.

“When we launched the national prayer week last week we were also clear that we were going on the ground to assess the levels of hunger throughout the country,” said Manyangadze

“But First and foremost we would want to collect and synthesise the information we are getting from different parts of the country which would give us a clear picture of the kind of interventions which we are going to propose to government and also to use our own communication channels and contacts with the other people within the country and outside,” said Manyangadze.

“We are also looking at the farmers try to provide them with the fed for their cattle in areas where we can and also to try and work with government to bring relief in different communities where it is needed”.

Over 2.5 million Zimbabweans are in dire need of food assistants and government has since appealed for assistance from the donor community.

CONTROVERSIAL artiste Fungisai Zvakavapano ­Mashavave has shockingly revealed that she is not a gospel musician and never wanted to be labelled as such.

In fact, the artiste who recently collaborated with Zim dancehall chanter Killer T, on a song called “Vanondibatirana” says, “I have been trying to untangle myself from this maze”.

Are these revelations true? Is this not an act of desperation and survival tactic by a fading artiste? Whatever the case, Fungisai has never been the one to shy away from controversy.

In the formative years of her career, sixteen years ago, she caused a stir with her sense of dressing, which most Christians found offensive or rather un­Christian.

Later on she proclaimed that she would never share the stage with secular musicians let alone collaborate with them but made an about ­turn when it suited her.

She offended uncircumcised men when she called them “useless” a few years ago and now she is distancing herself from gospel music.

She has had several spats with fellow artistes and promoters alike and she always speaks her mind.

The mother of three, says when she decided to make music her career, she did not plan to sing gospel music exclusively but was forced into it by a producer who believed it suited her style.

She says she has been battling with the norms of society ever since she was labelled a gospel artiste back then.

“Problem yangu inenge yemakaradhi. Unogona kukwana kuma blacks wokwana futi kumavheti asi kwese usinganyatsotambirwa (my problem is like that of mixed race people. They can fit in with both races yet they are not quite accepted). What do I mean? The church loves me so much … but they only want me for crusades where they want me to bring the house down with good danceable music to wow the crowds.

“When it comes to serious worship, they doubt me and they do not fully accept me. They do not think I’m spiritually there. They are like ‘but Fungisai was singing at Luciano’s gig last night wearing salt and pepper jeans – is she serious?’ And on the other hand secular musicians also have their reservations about me. They say ‘ndewechurch (she is a church person)’. In the end I do not quite fit in.”

Fungisai’s latest effort “Social Facts 2”, a seven­ track album, carries only one gospel track. The rest are love songs and other social commentaries riding on that deep traditional chimurenga beat popularised by Dr Thomas Mapfumo.

Her favourite instrument, mbira, dominates the entire album and Fungisai does not make any apologies for it.

The “Makomborero” singer says while most people see this as rebranding, it is not so. “This has always been in me. I think I’m mature enough now. There was a time when people decided things for me.

“Now I can defend my beliefs and stand for myself. This is who I am. I haven’t changed. I do not want to be locked up in some … you know sometimes it is like I’m being punished for believing. I do not have to denounce my Christianity before I’m accepted as a professional artiste. Give me a stage anywhere, anytime with anyone,” she said.

Fungisai says she regrets letting other people run her affairs and decide what music she would sing.

“I have regrets, of course, because I had this Fungisai that I had in mind when I started music. I put my destiny in other people’s hands. They decided what kind of an artiste I was going to become,” she lamented.

“When I approached the studio for the first time, I had my social songs on one hand and my gospel songs on the other. The producer said I was feminine and people would accept me if I sang gospel. For me I was like okay, because I got to sing and it complemented what I believe in as a child of God.

“However, I did not know what they were doing to the brand. Before I knew it the producer had turned me into this preacher girl. Which is something I have carried for a very long time. I have tried to be that girl but it has its setbacks. I’m limited as to who I perform with, where I perform and what to perform.”

The musician’s website and social media platforms proclaim the artiste as an Afrocon temporary artiste — a direction she confirmed she has recently aggressively embarked on.

“I have a dream, which still has to come true. I want to be an influential artiste on the world music front. For me the key thing is I’m an artiste. Before we talk about which religion I follow, my belief systems and so forth, I want to be in music for the music.

“…at the end of the day I want to perform any music that is of value to my society. I have always been determined to be myself. People have this Fungisai; the ideal person and I always have to fight to say there is the ideal me and the real me. I wish for people to understand and accept the person that I am, not the person they want me to be.

“Look even at the video of Makomborero, I would wear my leather boots and cap, and people would say, what, munhu we church. You will find that I have teamed up with Tuku (Oliver Mtukudzi), Jah Prayzah and now with Killer T. You find people saying ah munhu we church. Handisimunhu we church ini (I’m not a church person). Everyone has got their own church where they go to. Music is a profession for me and that has always been my approach and that is how I want to be understood.

“But there is always this stigma surrounding gospel musicians. If you say music is my profession it is like you are a sinner. My friends, the people I identified with at school, they are doctors. I was intelligent. I could have chosen a different career path but I chose music as a career so that I could sing anything.

“When I look at people like Lira and Zahara when they come here to perform I beat myself. “When I look at people like Lira and Zahara when they come here to perform I beat myself. Because I know I could be them or even better. I feel I can be very competitive and be on the same level with them but the challenge is the moment you are labelled a gospel artiste you are tied down, you can’t do this, you can’t eat, you can’t breathe, you can’t rest like that, you can’t go there. I love Christ but that should not be used to limit my creativity as an artiste.

“For instance, nurses or doctors, it is a profession, and they are working. There are no Christian doctors or Christian nurses, a doctor is a doctor.”

Fungisai says for years she has tried to show people who she really is but has always been misunderstood. “My beat is chimurenga and chingende. I have been trying to untangle myself from this maze that I found myself in. But then you hear that Fungisai we church avekuenda ku Jazz 105, Fungisai has performed with Joe Thomas.

“As you can see, the inner person in me is battling the norms of society. Right from the onset you would hear that I have performed with Bongo Maffin, I would perform with Luciano with all that smoke. It has always been like that. It is not that easy but I have managed to say this is who I am and I hope with time people will love me for the person that I am, not the person they want me to be.”

Fungisai, however, says she remains a God­ fearing Christian who is inspired by the Word. “However, everything I do, everything I sing is inspired by God. But because I love God I do not have to be singing about God all the time. We have to interact with society.

“I’m passionate about music. I have a gift of writing music and performing the songs. That is what has kept me afloat. If I stop singing I’ll die. I am not afraid to express myself. But the norm is if you are like me people will attack you for that. I’m a free spirit, I have a strong character and I believe in standing up for what I believe in.”

The “Handina Kururama” singer had a message for her fans and music lovers in general. “I want people to know that I am an artiste and I love God. But I chose music as a career. Music came first and then the ministry. My love for Christ should not limit my creativity as an artiste. I wish for people to understand me from that perspective.

“I pray for such a time when everyone will be able to understand that as Christains we can be different … I want to be able to perform like any other artiste under the sun.

“I just want to be an artiste with no prefects, no boundaries. People expect to hear that I do music to preach to many people bla bla bla. I am in showbiz, I’m a brand and I will not limit myself to a certain social group. I want Muslims, Hindus and Christians alike to all enjoy my music.

“I am revisiting my old material. The music I was told by my producer back then to throw 1/18/2016 I’m not a church person: I do not think she is a musician because she is a Christian. She was just born a musician and cannot be limited by religion.

“I am revisiting my old material. The music I was told by my producer back then to throw away. In 2016 I want people to know that side of me and I want to explore it. I want to be more visible. I want people to understand the artiste that I am.

“I want to be anywhere and everywhere. Killer T and I will be doing shows together. I have already started responding to some inquiries. I believe God does not have a problem with it,” she said as a parting shot.

Fungisai was born on January 27 1981. “Social Facts 2” is her 10th album. She has travelled and performed both regionally and internationally.

She is involved in various charitable activities and sits on various boards. She is married to Courage Mashavave, a banker, and they have three kids, Tawananyasha, Matipanyasha and Wenyasha.

Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe president and Faith Ministries senior Pastor, Shingi Munyeza, has raised eyebrows after the shrewd businessman and man of cloth invested in beer outlets and betting shops.

Munyeza has been running News Café — an upmarket and elegant bar — in Harare’s posh suburb of Borrowdale and another one in the capital’s avenue areas.

He is also a shareholder in gambling firm Mega Bet.

Although the former African Sun Limited chief executive’s empire is operating legally and creating employment in a country where unemployment rate is estimated over 80 percent, critics say it is immoral for a cleric to preach righteousness during the day and promote debauchery, heresy, fornication and drunkenness at night. 

Munyeza has said he was being unfairly judged but said he should be commended for helping reduce unemployment.

“When I was running a lot of hotels under African Sun, you guys did not write that I was operating brothels, but now that I have my own things you want to write bad about me. Is what I am doing illegal?” Munyeza queried when contacted for comment.

The academic and high ranking businessman said there was nothing wrong with Christians owning or working in pubs as long as the businesses are operating within the confines of the country’s legal parameters.

Psychologist and theology expert Laura Lambert said there is everything wrong with Christians either owning or working in environments that do not promote the gospel of Christ.

“If the person doing this is a true born-again Bible-believing Christian, this lifestyle would not sit well with him or her,” Lambert said.

“I was a bartender off and on over the years and when I got saved I got convicted of it and did not feel comfortable with serving alcohol anymore or even being in a bar in that kind of environment.

“Also there is a lot of scripture in the Bible that warns us of being drunk or even getting a person drunk.”

Claudius Damba, a cleric with a local Pentecostal church, said there was nothing wrong in what Munyeza was doing, as long as he was loving and serving his neighbours,” said

“According to Matthew 22:36-40, loving God and loving our neighbours sums up our purpose,” he said.

“Having been reconciled to God through Christ, we are then sent by God into the world to love and serve Him by loving and serving our neighbours. This happens in vocation. So we can ask of every kind of work we are doing, ‘Am I loving and serving my neighbour, or am I exploiting and tempting him?’” he said.

“Obviously, those who make their living by robbery do not love their neighbours. Heroin dealers, hit men, con artists, and other criminals are hurting their neighbours and have no calling from God to do so,” Damba added.

At least 200 people from the ancient Mang’anja tribe in Chikwawa village, Malawi, were reportedly attacked by a swarm of bees while praying for rain, resulting in seven of them being admitted to a local hospital.

According to Nyasa Times, the group had gathered together at a shrine in Matengambili forest in order to offer a sacrifice to their god, mbona, so that they could receive rains – in view of the prolonged dry spell.

The report said that in the olden days, when elders gave the sacrifice at mbona shrines, rain fell “immediately in abundance”.

“We wanted to ask favours from mbona to give us rain, lest we perish. As we were giving the sacrifice, a swarm of bees came and bit most of the people who were there, scattering all of us in different directions for cover,” the village headman said.

Harare will on the 6^th of February be hosting the national Inter- Faith Day at the City Sports Centre.

Announcing the event to representatives of the Christian and Muslim community in Harare on Friday Minister of state responsible for Harare Province Miriam Chikukwa called for unity of purpose on the big day.

“We are calling upon everyone to pray for our economy, we want God to intervene in our economy and in our homes,” said Chikukwa.

“We want peace and we want to shun violence, of late we have been reading in the papers where we have found out that there is domestic violence in most of our homes. We want to pray so that God brings peace upon us.”

She said people must be able to speak together because if people live in harmony there will be “development and our businesses will thrive again”.

Minister Chikukwa said if the nation prays current problems the country is facing will end.

“If you look at the industries, I know a lot of people including Christians and Muslims have been saying industries have closed and when I look at them I say they will come again according to Ezekiel 37 every bone in the valley will know where it is supposed to go.”

She said after the prayer she has faith that people will come together at the same time experience more development, economically, spiritually, socially and politically.

President Robert Mugabe yesterday launched a tirade against critics who say he has overstayed in power, vowing to hang on to power until he dies.

Mugabe became AU chairperson in January 2015 amid pomp and fanfare, but local analysts and opposition groups say his term was a disaster.

In his hour-long speech, the soon to be 92-year-old leader said he would lead Zimbabwe until God called him.

“I will be there until God says come, but as long as am alive I will head the country, forward ever, backward never,” he said.

Mugabe said those who were saying he must hand over power to others were not democratic. He said such calls were emanating from Europe.

President Mugabe who was preceded on the podium by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and the chairperson of the AU Commission Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma was cheered wildly as he took a pot shot at United States President Barack Obama.

“There is Obama today. What is he? A voice made to speak their language, not our language,” he charged.

“Blacks suffer in the US today, there is no education for all, health for all.’’

Mugabe had stumbled lightly before he reached the podium. The Zimbabwean leader has been in power since independence in 1980.

Meanwhile, MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said Zimbabweans should be relieved that Mugabe’s tenure as AU chair had ended.

“Mugabe’s tenure of office didn’t bring any positive results to Zimbabwe in particular and Africa in general,” he said.

“For instance, the hot political spots in Africa such as Burundi, Somalia, Libya and the DRC are still in turmoil.

“Mugabe didn’t do anything meaningful and tangible to resolve the various political problems in these troubled African countries.

“He was just hoping from one plane onto another in 2015 as the African political hot spots continued to burn.”

Gutu said Mugabe has never been known to be an astute diplomat and trouble-shooter, but a talkative leader with less action.

“As for Zimbabwe, Mugabe was basically an absentee president in 2015 as he was always travelling,” he said.

“He travelled out of Zimbabwe a record 44 times, gobbling more than $60 million from the bankrupt national Treasury in the process, while the Zimbabwean economy remains in a comatose condition.”

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) international relations secretary, Willas Madzimure, said Mugabe was virtually “folding his hands while Zimbabwe and Africa burns” during his tenure.

He described him as the worst AU chair Africa ever had.

“His [Mugabe] report card as AU chair shows that Africa continues to be ravaged by wars, terror attacks, coups, food shortages, droughts, diseases, HIV and Aids, Ebola, corruption, human and child trafficking, child labour; and high unemployment while he and his continental henchmen stood akimbo,” Madzimure said.

He said Mugabe failed to provide political leadership to the continent, leaving most African problems unresolved and exploding into full-scale conflicts.

Serious problems are rife in South Sudan, Mali and Burkina Faso where General Gilbert Diendere staged a coup on September 16 2015.

In Burundi, another genocide is almost unfolding under Mugabe’s tenure after Pierre Nkurunzinza bulldozed himself to a third presidential term.

There is also growing insecurity on the continent with the rise of terror groups such as Boko Haram, Al Qaeda and ISIL in East, West and Northern Africa. This has forced many Africans to flee to Europe, with some perishing at sea.

“To all these heinous acts, the continental leader seemed to turn a blind eye, maybe realising he has often relied on the same tactics to extend his rule.

“Mugabe maintained his deafening silence on these tragic incidences,” Madzimure said.

During his tenure, Mugabe traversed the globe for presidential inaugurations and attended international conferences, but remained mum on the challenges some African countries were facing.

Additional reporting by Africa Review.

About 140 youths gathered at Our Lady of Wayside Parish in Mt Pleasant for yet another Magis Resolution Day aimed at encouraging youths to make Christocentric resolutions for the year 2016.

Br. Ngonidzashe Edward SJ, a delegate for the Jesuit Youth Ministry and St Ignatius College chaplain, Fr. Ignatius Padya S.J facilitated the day’s proceedings.

In a session led by Br. Edward, the youths meditated upon their lives to make more spiritual resolutions which are centred on Christ.

Fr. Ignatius Padya was the celebrant in a youthful and uplifting mass in which the youths were invited to contemplate on the values of the Lord’s word and to reflect upon their own resolutions. “To be a Christian is a choice that comes with tough consequences just like St. Paul said ‘I have become a fool for the sake of the kingdom of God’, but people might not know that the foolishness is ‘holy foolishness’” said Fr Padya.

Magis Coordinator Mr. Hamadziripi Chinhoyi challenged the youths to go into the world and ‘ignite someone’ to do good this year.

Teachers from Jesuits schools recently attended the Companionship Program workshop at St Peter Faber centre in Harare.

A total of 18 teachers from primary and high schools run by the Jesuit Province of Zimbabwe-Mozambique met for a one day workshop discussing the Companionship program which seeks to promote integration of  local Jesuit schools and Jesuit schools in other countries mainly Europe.

In his video presentation, ‘Unlocking the Future’, Zimbabwe-Mozambique Province, Jesuit Education Delegate Fr. Joe Arimoso S.J said that “education is at the centre of our spirituality” and “Jesuit pedagogy and ethos are tied to the faith that does justice, therefore talking about education for justice naturally falls into Jesuit schools” said Fr. Arimoso S.J.

His Grace, the Archbishop of Harare Archdiocese, Rev. Robert Ndlovu confirmed more than 200 faithful at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary parish in Marondera.

Two parishes of Marondera deanary congregated for this celebration.

The Archbishop, urged all congregants to value in greatness the sacrament of reconciliation and to continually receive the Eucharist.

“In this year, we are all invited to reconcile and commune with God and to live in his everlasting mercy for Christ is a mirror of God’s love and mercy, and his love and teachings witness the everlasting mercy of God,” said the Archbishop.

Marondera Dean and parish priest for Our Lady of the Holy Rosary announced that the group confirmed comprise those who attended classes for confirmation and all who were formerly denied the sacrament due to various reasons and are now experiencing the fruits of the year of mercy.

Arrupe College on Wednesday 20 January held a memorial Mass for former lecturer and acting dean of the college in 2004, Fr Isidore Kuupolle Bonabom SJ, who passed away on the 22^nd of December 2015 in Ghana.

The Provincial of the Society of Jesus Zimbabwe-Mozambique Province, Fr Chiedza Chimhanda SJ concelebrated the mass with Arrupe College Rector Fr Chuks Afiawari SJ, the Dean Dr Kizito Kiyimba SJ and other priests.

The registrar of Arrupe College who was the homilist, Dr Evaristus Ekwueme S.J narrated the story and death of Fr Bonabom SJ.

“Isidore showed us what the mercy of God was, that is what he passed on, what it means to tell the truth, he insisted that everybody is important,”said Dr Ekwueme SJ.

“It was very difficult to stay with Isidore, say something bad about someone and get away with, because he believed that everybody is equal no matter who no matter what,” he added.

Congregants from the Braeside parish in Harare were Fr Bonabom served many years, were among the congregants who attended the mass.

Parishioners, family and friends of Fr. Tafadzwa Ronald Kushamba, congregated at Holy Name Mabelreign parish on Sunday the 17th of January to celebrate Fr. Kushamba’s “home-coming” mass since his ordination on the 26th of June 2015 in Madison Diocese in the United States of America.

The new priest urged the people to pray to God that He transforms their lives for the better.

“Just like Jesus changed water into wine at the Wedding at Cana, let us also pray that Jesus transforms the water that we are into good wine that will help others appreciate God”, said Fr. Kushamba. He also urged the congregation to continue praying for more vocations either priesthood or marriages.

Among the people gathered were some of his friends from USA who expressed how happy and grateful they were to have Fr. Kushamba as their priest and friend.