(Churches and clergy making headlines this past week)
November 28th, 2021
Headlines:
👉🏻‘Violent - free Elections in Doubt’
👉🏻25% Drop In Church Attendances Worrisome
👉🏻Less Privileged Pupils To Benefit From Privatisation Of Mission Schools: Anglican Diocese
👉🏻Baby Is Alive : Prophetess Exhumes Corpse
👉🏻Chivi Local Peace Council Campaigns For Peace
👉🏻One- Eyed People, Relatives Not Allowed During Makomichi’s Mortuary Visit To “Resurrect The Dead”
The News In Detail :
‘Violent-free elections in doubt’
CHURCH leaders have called for peace ahead of the 2023 elections amid warning by analysts that the forthcoming polls are a potential “bloodbath”, citing the resurgence of politically-motivated violence.
Zimbabwe will hold by-elections early next year while harmonised elections are scheduled for 2023.
In a statement yesterday, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) emphasised the need for prayer, electoral reforms and adherence to the rule of law to ensure free and fair non - violent elections.
“Informed by the above theological reflection, as the ZHOCD, we desire in 2023 to see an election process which is going to be characterized by peace and tolerance before, during and after the elections,” read the ZHOCD statement signed by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop Conference, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Union for Development of Apostolic and Zionist Churches in Zimbabwe Africa.
“The ZHOCD expects that the authorities will implement essential electoral reforms well before elections take place, expects that the leadership of all political parties will take responsibility to preserve and protect the lives of citizens.
“The ZHOCD and Chapter 12 institutions should prepare an Election Peace Pact to be signed by all political parties. The ZHOCD will organise pre-election prayer services to pray for peace during and after elections.”
Source : NewsDay
25% Drop In Church Attendances Worrisome
By Sydney Barson
The Church should brace for an enhanced recruitment drive as it might have lost 25% of its members due to the effects of Covid -19, a new research by Rev Dr. Kenneth Mtata of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches has revealed.
The survey sought to investigate the state of the Church after Covid - 19.
According to the survey findings launched last week, at least 65% have returned to Church whole - heartedly.
"About 60% of the members believe church is no longer the same after Covid - 19, they feel it is struggling, there may be need to carry a post Covid -19 assessment of the church." The survey says.
20% of the people think that the church was not able to adapt to the changing environment, and suggests the need for innovation.
"Your members are now largely on whatsapp, look for them there, there are no longer only in the physical church." The survey revealed.
The Covid -19 lockdown period also saw a number of Christians joining prayer groups and inter - denominational groups and Church members are nowc shepherded by two or three pastors and denominational allegiance is at stake.
As the country commits to achieve a herd - immunity, the survey also revealed that the church has contributed largely to make more people get vaccinated, though there is a sizeable number which believes in the various conspiracies.
"If every member knows someone who died of covid - 19, message of comfort, mercy and compassion can be more relevant in the post - covid era.
Source : Church News
Less Privileged Pupils To Benefit From Privatisation Of Mission Schools: Anglican Diocese
MUTARE: The Anglican Diocese of Manicaland has defended the privatisation of its mission schools across the province saying it will enable the church to fund for the less privileged children’s school fees in surrounding communities.
However, the move to privatize Anglican Church’s top mission schools in the province is facing resistance from other stakeholders.
Schools set for privatisation are; St Faith, St David’s Bonda, St Augustine High, St Anne’s Goto, St Mathias Tsonzo, and St Mary’s Magdalena.
However, communities surrounding the above schools argue the move will negatively impact poor parents and guardians as they will be unable to enroll their children due to expensive fees.
A well-placed source within the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland told NewZimbabwe.com Thursday local communities were no longer benefiting from mission schools since fees gazetted by the government were beyond their reach.
Source : New Zimbabwe
BABY IS ALIVE : PROPHETESS EXHUMES CORPSE
A self-styled prophetess from Kutenda kwaJehovha Apostolic church has been arrested for ordering the exhumation of the body of a three-month-old baby in Madziwa whom she claimed would resurrect after her prayers.
Pelagia Chingwena (35) ordered the reburial of the body after her prayers and rituals came to naught.
Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Dhliwayo said the bishop of the church Tamuka Chiboiwa (43), the Chingwena, the deceased’s parents and church members gathered and prayed for the corpse the whole night.
The baby died at around 3 am on November 16.
“Soon after the baby’s death, a message was sent to Chiboiwa of Musiiwa village under Chief Mutumba in Madziwa.
“He contacted Chingwena of the same village who started praying and speaking in tongues,” said Ass Insp Dhliwayo.
“She claimed to the bishop that the baby was not dead. Chiboiwa immediately contacted the deceased’s parents advising them not to bury the baby until they arrived.”
The bishop, prophetess, and other congregants went to Arda Farm and arrived at 4 pm only to find the baby already buried.
Ass Insp Dhliwaypo said the prophetess started praying and fell into a trance before ordering church elders to exhume the corpse insisting that the baby was alive.
It is reported that the body was taken home and the prophetess spent the whole night trying to resurrect the baby, but she failed.
The body was reburied on November 17 at around 10 am. The same day, ZRP Mvurwi was informed that a body was exhumed at Arda Farm in Mvurwi.
Police went to the homestead of the father Robson Mutazu and found the body reburied.
Investigations revealed that the baby Chipo Mutazu had passed away the previous day.
Source : News Report
Chivi Local Peace Council Campaigns For Peace
By Rev. Bright Purazeni
The Chivi Local Peace Committee continues to attract large crowds to its peace processes with the last meeting held last Saturday attended by 78 women, 27 men, 23 girls, 20 boys and a male and a female with disabilities.
The event started at 0830hours and lasted until 1400hours.
It was hosted by the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe and was opened in prayer by one of the participants, Mrs Mapuvire.
The participants were from ZCC member churches in the district namely, Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, Church of Christ, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe.
Mrs. Margaret Zvandasara, the Secretary of the Chivi Local Peace Committee gave the Covid -19 awareness and encouraged people to be vaccinated.
Reverend Bright Purazeni, the Chairperson of the Chivi Local Peace Committee gave an overview of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and its mandate.
He went on to present a paper on why Peace is important and why christians are called to work for Peace and Justice.
Chaplin Paul Tsvangirai, the Vice Chairperson of the Chivi Local Peace Committee touched on ways of resolving conflicts as well as the National Dialogue Framework.
The Chivi Local Peace Council resolved to continue with its Peace building efforts in the district by taking advantage of already existing activities in its respective communities.
Source : Church News
One- Eyed People, Relatives Not Allowed During Makomichi’s Mortuary Visit To “Resurrect The Dead”
Controversial Masvingo preacher Isaac Makomichi reportedly wrote a letter to government seeking permission to resurrect the dead.
Makomichi is reportedly awaiting approval of his request.
Several sources claimed Makomichi says he wants to visit Parirenyatwa Group Of Hospitals mortuary and he will not allow one eyed individuals/doctors and relatives to witness the miracle.
He claimed the dead would be come back to life for 12 hours.
Several church leaders accuse Makomichi of using secret powers to “move mountains and to perform some shocking miracles”,
He is known for “making people rich and distributing love charms to slayqueens.”
Makomichi said that if he resurrects someone, relatives must pay US$1000 per hour and the dead would reveal his/ her last wishes.
Source : News Report
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