By Christopher Makaza
Thousands of people from over 300 Church Denominations and Government institutions have today gathered at the State House for a National Day of Prayer which was spearheaded by the First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa.
The prayers were launched against Sanctions, Cultural Decadence, Natural Disasters and all forms of abuse in the country. Other prayer points were Peace and Reconciliation, Economic Revival and praying for wisdom for all leaders.
Speaking at the event, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said, “Only God knows what every country needs. It is also written in the holy books that those who pray in HIS name, HE will listen to them. HE is a merciful God who will hear all our prayers.
“Whenever I get a chance, I always preach about peace, love, unity and harmony. This dovetails with what Churches stand for. They also preach about peace, love and harmony,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also said he had never seen such an event happening at State House, saying Freedom of Worship is in the constitution. He urged everyone in this country to maintain peace and to love one another and that God is the one who appoints leaders.
He went on to say that leaders should also know that the people they lead are not theirs but God’s people.
The First lady is alive to the role churches play in peace building and unity, said the President. Zimbabwe is a God fearing country therefore She is positive that a prayer will open up doors for our country.
While addressing the gathering, the First Lady said, “dai Mwari vatinzwawo, nyika yedu yeZimbabwe yachema,” (If only God would hear our prayers, the country of Zimbabwe is mourning), quoting Matthew 18 verse 20 which reads “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
The First Lady also said people had gathered to ask God for help to turn around the country’s fortunes.
“As we are gathered here in his name, we know that HE (God) is also with us in our midst. We are here crying to God for a turnaround of our country and its transformation,” said the First Lady.
Southern African countries have also put their weight behind Zimbabwe in her quest for restrictive measures to see the exit door.
Meanwhile Government is aware of clandestine plans by rogue opposition activists and the civil society to infiltrate and capitalise on the anti-sanctions campaign scheduled for, 25 October2019, to engage in criminal activities.
Messages circulating on social media reveal that MDC and other anti- government elements want to hijack the peaceful anti-sanctions campaign and engage in acts of violence and the looting of shops like what happened in, January 2019.
The Harare Post has learnt the First Lady planned this National Event with the assistance of a committee selected from different churches countrywide. It is a non-political event but a national one which was open to everyone regardless of political affiliation and Church Denominations.
