By Prosper Dembedza, The Herald – Apostolic faith churches will continue to support President Mugabe and Zanu-PF to ensure that the party resoundingly wins the 2018 harmonised elections, an official has said.Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) president Archbishop Johannes Ndanga said despite the strong criticism they get from the MDC formations and their backers in Europe, the churches had since made their decision to go along with President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.
Addressing congregants of the Marching to Zion Apostolic Faith Church at Mushove in Mberengwa, where he ordained William Mushove as the first Bishop of the Church in the district over the weekend, Archbishop Ndanga described President Mugabe as a God-fearing leader who puts the interests of the people of Zimbabwe first.
He said this was evidenced by President Mugabe’s role in the liberation struggle and the developmental programmes he initiated since independence.
“We as apostolic churches will not hesitate to support the revolutionary party no matter what the MDC formations say about us and we are going to make sure that Zanu-PF wins resoundingly come 2018,” said Archbishop Ndanga.
“The MDC formations must know that Zanu-PF is not a project like theirs which aim to reverse the gains of our hard won independence. They should know that Zanu-PF has a history of fighting for the country’s liberation and black empowerment which clearly indicates that it has the people at heart and that is why we will die supporting it.”
Archbishop Ndanga told the congregants that he had been sent by President Mugabe to thank all apostolic churches for voting resoundingly for Zanu-PF in the July 31 harmonised elections.
“The President told me to let you know that Zanu-PF is pleased by the way you voted in the just-ended harmonised elections and he said thank you for your support,” he said.
Archbishop Ndanga implored all apostolic sects to take advantage of Government’s indigenisation and empowerment programme to engage in projects that boost development in their communities.
“Let us all rise and make use of the empowerment drive, spearheaded by the Government to emancipate ourselves from poverty and unemployment,” he said.
“Don’t hesitate to apply for land to build apostolic sect schools in your communities because the Zanu-PF Government is there to support us in making sure that our lives are improved,”
Archbishop Ndanga also urged people take farming seriously.