The Sunday Mail
MINISTER of State for Harare Provincial Affairs Miriam Chikukwa is known for citing Bible verses whenever she is addressing a public gathering and is now nicknamed “pastor”. The Sunday Mail Religion last week caught up with her and she confessed that the Bible is her “first blue print”. Below are excerpts of the interview between Religion Writer Desire Ncube and Minister Chikukwa.
DN: Is Minister Chikukwa an ordained gospel minister?
MC, Yes, I was ordained in 2012 by Bishop Climate Irungu. ln fact, Bishop Irungu appointed me as the chief administrator in the SADC office in 2011.
DN: How do you balance the two, being a politician and a preacher of the word of God, considering that both are demanding?
MC: I balance the two the same way Daniel in the Bible performed his duties. He was appointed on several influential positions in government from Babylonian and Medo- pesian rulers.
At one point he was a Governor. He was a ruler appointed by the king which included Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel (2 v 48) “He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon placed him in charge of all its wise man.”
The double anointing of being a prophet and a politician made him a ruler in a foreign land. I do not mix two offices but they complement each other.
The Bible forbids corruption, bribes, homosexuality and rebellion; they are all sins and in Government they are also not allowed.
DN: How does your faith influence Government policies?
MC: I perform double duties in Government, besides being a cabinet minister, l pray for everyone, from the President to the last person in Government. Romans 13 v 1-7 shows that leaders are ordained by God. You can never hold any post without God’s approval, that means we must submit to our rulers and leaders.
The same scripture gives the rulers power to punish us, so if you disobey leaders and you become rebellious you are committing an offence according to this scripture and when they deal with you, don’t cry foul.
Whenever I perform my duties I am guided by my Christian values. When we make oath, we use the Bible and we say, “So help me God”. God’s eye is everywhere for He says, “Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? (Psalms 94v9 – NIV)
DN: What is your view on the proliferation of the prosperity gospel ?
MC: In my opinion, prosperity alone will not assist men in need of PHD, that is Prosperity, Healing and Deliverance. All pastors,evangelists and prophets have to make sure that Christians get these three important elements. If we have this anointing, we will help our people in building this great nation.
ln Luke 10v1-18, Jesus commands his disciples to “go yee and preach the good news, heal the sick and deliver people from bondage”.
For one to prosper, he or she needs peace; you cannot prosper when you are bonded by the devil. That is why you see wealthy people committing suicide, it is because they lack deliverance and healing of the spirit.
We all need to experience the abundance as stipulated in the Bible (John 10:10). If we are not experiencing it that means the devil who is the thief is stealing our wealth, joy and favour, among other good things.
If they obey and serve him, “they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in peace.” Job 36:11(KJV)
That means prosperity is a benefit of being a child of God, John 1:12-13 says whoever believes becomes a child of God which means if you are a child of God, you inherit your father’s wealth. That is the reason why Peter says, “As his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and goodness through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue.” (Peter 1:3).
It is not the will of God for us to lack, we are His children, we must have everything that is why Paul said to the Philippians, “And my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” It means prosperity is having physical ,social and spiritual well being, not only wealth.
DN: Which church do you go to?
MC: Kingdom Church under Bishop Climate Ministry.
I am a senior pastor there and in Harare we fellowship at the Harare Polytechnic in the Bait hall every Sunday from 9am to 1pm.
DN: Does your faith assist you in dealing with different issues that you encounter daily as you execute your duties?
MC: Yes, I have no fear and I have sound mind so that I can work well. In second Timothy 1:7, “God did not give us a spirit of timid but a spirit of power of love and of self discipline,”(NKJV). Some people ask me where I get the strength, Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me,” (Philippians 4:13).
I get wisdom from God and counselling from some people who include my mentor, President Robert Mugabe.
DN: At what age did you start preaching?
MC: I was born in Mutare in 1963 in a Christian family from my late father Mr Jonas Chikukwa and Mrs Cecilia Chikukwa. My parents used to have deliverance sessions at our home and I used to pray for people.
I remember that during my primary school days at Kagore School in the Nyamaropa area of Nyanga, other pupils used to call me Mai Ruwadzano because of my prayerful life.
DN: What makes you stay in faith despite the countless temptations that you face, especially at work?
MC: My family is very supportive, this includes my mother, my children, my in-laws, aunties, uncles, church and my prayer partners.
My spiritual father, Bishop Irungu and my boss President Mugabe and Amai (First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe), they are my pillars.
My boss, His Excellency, always experience machinations from his detractors but he always emerge stronger and unravelled. This gives me hope that I can also do it, as long as I am submissive to his authority and impart from his leadership.
