The Sunday Mail
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has enunciated his Vision 2030 of transforming the country into an upper middle income economy in the next twelve years.
After declaring that ‘‘Zimbabwe is open for business’’, he has been making frantic efforts to attract investors. In the Second Republic, more energy is being expended on economic recovery. And as economic activity hots up, religion has taken its place in nation building.
In his sermon, “The Blessing of Dominion”, New Life Covenant Church leader, Bishop Tudor Bismarck said Zimbabwe should get ready for ‘‘seven years of Joseph’s blessing’’.
This may be translated to mean that Zimbabwe will experience years of plenty. Kingdom Prosperity Ministries (KPM) founder Apostle Rodney Chipoyera recently prophesied that in the first 100 days of the Second Republic, there will be more investors compared to the past two decades.
He also explained that the church’s role is to pray for the sitting Government, despite one’s political affiliation. Church of Central African Presbyterian’s (CCAP) Reverend Gibson Botomani said the church is mandated to preach peace and justice among nations, according to Proverbs 31:8.
“It has always been the role of the church to nurture nation building values that will in turn foster economic recovery.
“A country needs accountability but that can only be achieved through an open system. It takes the church to teach on transparency,” said Rev Botomani.
“The church teaches respect of the law through obeying the Ten Commandments and it should be understood that the judicial system is founded on the Bible. The church can help in marketing the country as a good destination for investment. For example, recently the Zimbabwe Council of Churches met the Catholic Pope and spoke about destination Zimbabwe, hence they act as the country’s ambassador.”
Supreme Council of Islamic Religion in Zimbabwe chair, Sheikh Ishmail Duwa said religion is important in nation building.
“Religion should come first, it should be at the core of the society as they play a key role in moulding good citizens,” he said.
“Religion also breeds and safeguards peace, honesty and integrity in the nation.”
Political and economic analyst, Mr Godwin Mureriwa said the church moulds God fearing, patriotic and hard-working people.
“God’s Ten Commandments is an important pillar of State. It cements civilisation and builds God fearing and generous citizens. The result is the peace that enables productivity, which guarantee individual and collective economic development.
“This in turn cultivates socio-political cohesion, while further sustaining peace. It is a progressive cycle,” he said.
He went on: “Peace is the cornerstone of economic development. All freedoms, human rights, rule of law and good governance depend on peace.
Mr Mureriwa said when peace is prevailing, it’s easy for investors to do business.
