Unity, peace crucial in run-up to elections

Oscar J Jeke

Peace and unity are important in the community, especially in the run-up to elections, church leaders from Mabvuku-Tafara have said.

This emerged during a meeting between Church leaders from Mabvuku-Tafara and Zanu PF aspiring Member of the National Assembly, Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya heard on Friday.

Sakupwanya met with the church leaders to discuss and come up with resolutions on issues affecting the community and the church in the area.

About 53 church leaders who carried grievances and ideas to present for the betterment of the community.

Prophet Tawanda blessing Bondera of Grace Harvest Ministries international said the church plays an important role in the community, stressing that it should be at the helm in commending national and local development.

“The church must bring unity in the city and should be the root of love so that peace prevails,” Prophet Bondera said.

One Pastor Zindoga weighed in saying the oneness in churches encourages peace, especially in politics and governance.

“We have to encourage our children that we shepherd to be involved in community engagement and development especially in industries and maybe that will reduce corruption through economic empowerment of Christians,” he said.

Major Muringani of the Salvation Army Church said development is an action-based initiative, which all can see such as the Mabvuku Turn-off Road and solar boreholes.

He commended Sakupwanya for the job well done.

“Capacity building and human empowerment through education is therefore needed so that what has been developed can be taken care of and used as should be, ……. Community development goes beyond politics,” Muringani added.

Addressing the same meeting, Sakupwanya said he wanted to be a servant of the people of Mabvuku Tafara, lamenting that he had made the mistake of not involving the church in development initiatives.

“This time around, I have God on my side because all of you servants of God are here in attendance. I have initiatives that I have started to encourage growth in the community by giving the youth opportunities and I will ask all of you from different churches to sit down own your own and prepare proposals for development and also your own grievances as a church,” Sakupwanya told the gathering.

Citizen Coalition for Change candidate for Mabvuku-Tafara, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi when contacted for comment, also encouraged continuous inclusion of the church arguing it is pivotal.

However, the politician said these have to be genuine motives and not done for political advantage and campaigns.

“There is need for continuous inclusivity with the church as it is paramount to our society, I myself go to church every Sunday, but there has to be a difference of a church goer and a politician looking to gain from the church, the motives have to be genuine,” Kufahakutizwi said.

The two square off in a by-election on December 9.