Mujuru working to win over church leadership to Zanu PF

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GWERU — Vice-President Joice Mujuru has urged church leaders to participate in Zanu PF programmes in order to become economically empowered.

GWERU — Vice-President Joice Mujuru has urged church leaders to participate in Zanu PF programmes in order to become economically empowered.

Report by Stephen Chadenga.

Speaking at a Gweru ministers fraternal church service in the city yesterday, Mujuru said it was disheartening that upon retirement many church leaders ended up destitute because they would have failed to take part in programmes like the land reform and indigenisation, among others.

She said it was surprising that there were so many church leaders who did not have farms because they thought that the land reform programme was “meant for other people”.

“Don’t be misled that you are not part of the land reform programme or the indigenisation exercise. The land is yours and I am surprised that many of you don’t have a place of your own,” Mujuru said.

“I am told by Governor [Jason] Machaya that few pastors were allocated land here in the province. When the land audit has been undertaken and we reorganise our land distribution, please act vigorously to ensure that you have land of your own.”

The VP said church leaders who failed to join in the empowerment programmes end up grabbing church property when they retire.

“If you can’t be part of the indigenisation programme and claim your share of the cake, you end up grabbing church property upon retirement,” she said.

Mujuru also urged the Midlands mining commissioner to engage pastors so that they could take part in mining.

She said church leaders should ensure that their followers also benefited from the empowerment programmes in order to end poverty in the church.

The church service organised by a coalition of pastors from different church leaders was also attended by senior Zanu PF leaders that included party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, Zvishavane MP Obert Matshalaga and minister Flora Buka among others.