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Writes Tafadzwa Muranganwa
Chipinge – Popular church leader, Dr Bishop Phillip Pferedzai has made a clarion call for a peaceful plebiscite as the election fever grips the country.
Zimbabwean elections have often been characterised by violence and bloodshed. Already there have been reports of pockets of political violence perpetrated by activists across the political divide as the country braces for polls next month. Disturbed by this, St Luke’s Apostolic Ejiwel Jekineshen Church leader, Archbishop Dr. Phillip Pferedzai has called for political parties to contest in a peaceful environment to enable credible, free, and fair elections.
“As elections draw near, there is the need for all and sundry to be able to maintain peace so that we have a credible, free, and fair election.
“Peace is essential for the country to move forward and prosper,” said the Jekineshen leader.
He was speaking at the church’s 91st anniversary of the discernment of the Holy Spirit into their church founder in Bocha held at the church’s headquarters in Maunganidze, Chipinge.
“On the 17th of July 1932, the Holy Spirit ‘visited’ our founding father Luke Pferedzai Mataruka in the area of Bocha so every year we celebrate this day to honour the Holy Spirit and our visionary,” revealed Archbishop Dr. Pferedzai who is son and heir to the late church founder.
The event was also attended by the Council for Churches in Africa executive members led by its President, Archbishop Dr Rocky Moyo.
The CCA President challenged the church to invest in education and chastised its leaders to refrain from ‘unGodly’ acts.
“You have a fledging church and nothing can stop you from building schools named after your church leader. Such an investment will go a long way in empowering your congregation and ensuring your legacy is intact,” advised the CCA founder.
“Pastors and prophets don’t be wayward. Just continue to be morally upright. We don’t want to hear reports of church leaders snatching other people’s wives here,” added Archbishop Dr Rocky Moyo.
Council for Churches in Africa is an inter-religious organisation that has spread its wings in Africa with an aim to build churches that embrace modernity but remain grounded in religious beliefs and principles.