APOSTOLIC and other African-initiated churches have said President Robert Mugabe’s new government must set eyes on delivery and fighting corruption rather than being vindictive.
BY PATRICE MAKOVA
Leaders of the over-620 churches registered under the umbrella group of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ), played a part in securing a resounding victory for Mugabe against MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
They openly mobilised hundreds of thousands of their followers to vote for Zanu PF in the July 31 elections.
But ACCZ president, Bishop Johannes Ndanga said electioneering was over and it was now time for the government to deliver on its promises of developing the country, improving the conditions of services for civil servants and fighting corruption, among other things.
Ndanga said Tsvangirai on the other hand should gracefully accept defeat and stop behaving like a “sore loser” by alleging that elections were rigged without providing concrete evidence.
“It is now time to unite as a country and forge ahead with the development of the country. To Zanu PF, we are saying do not be vindictive and despise the losers,” he said.
Ndanga said Mugabe’s call for zero tolerance on corruption would instill investor confidence.
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He accused some top officials of amassing massive wealth, including financial institutions and properties through corrupt means. Mugabe recently admitted that some of his ministers were corrupt to the core.
“How did they amass such wealth in a short period of time? They must be investigated and if found guilty, the wealth must be returned to the people,” said Ndanga.
He said the “vultures” (corrupt officials) were scaring away investors and hurting the economy. Former Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) board chairman, Godwills Masimirembwa is under investigations for allegedly receiving about US$6 million from a Ghanaian Investor, William Ato Essien.
He also allegedly threatened him, saying that he would be arrested once he set foot in Zimbabwe.
The ACCZ leader said investigations should be thorough and go beyond the few known corruption cases.
Ndanga said the police force should itself be above board and stop “rogue” elements from demanding bribes from ordinary people.
He claimed that the “holy spirit” has shown that sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe by the West were on their way out.
Ndanga repeated claims that Mugabe was “anointed” to rule the country by the “holy spirit” and still had a mission to complete.
“He is no ordinary man,” he said.
Ndanga said it was now time for the country to give an iconic status to Mugabe, just like what South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique did to their founding fathers like Nelson Mandela, Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere and Samora Machel respectively.
The church leader said the apostolic and independent churches were not expecting to be rewarded for campaigning for Zanu PF.
But he said they wanted the government to compel the MDC-T led councils to set aside free land for churches such as Johane Masowe, Johane Marange and Zion Christian Church.
He said councils were auctioning at above commercial rates land set aside for churches, resulting in traditional and rich new Pentecostal churches grabbing everything available at the expense of African-led ones.
Ndanga urged government to enact legislation to bar bogus and “demonic” churches from being established under the guise of freedom of worship.
Church leaders, among them Noah Taguta Momberume, who heads Johane Marange and Paul Mwazha of African Apostolic Church and ZCC’s Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi, openly endorsed Mugabe before the elections.
The MDC-T accused Zanu PF of abusing churches. But Ndanga yesterday said Tsvangirai has been snubbing them since becoming Prime Minister in 2009.
He said Zanu PF on the other hand seconded vice-President Joice Mujuru to work with the African and apostolic churches.
Ndanga said the churches would continue participating in politics, as the Bible stated that they were “the salt of the earth and light of the world”.
He said as prophesised before elections, MDC-T would soon split.
The Standard last week sought to interview the hugely followed and prophetic Mwazha. But it emerged from sources close to him that he does not entertain such interviews. His followers are also not allowed to watch television.
