News / Local
Bulawayo now Zim church hub - MP Ndebele
17 Jun 2015 at 12:51hrs | Views
A Bulawayo parliamentarian - Anele Ndebele of MDC-T has bemoaned the fast conversion of the city from an industrial hub to a church town.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Ndebele questioned why the central government was not taking any decisive action to revive industries.
"Why is our Government standing aloof when industries are closing left, right and centre?
"Bulawayo is now a church town. Where industries used to be, there are now churches all over," said Ndebele.
He added "I was speaking to municipality officials - everyone would know that we have one of the strictest councils in the land - they are now mooting a situation where they will allow women to keep chickens in what used to be factories. This is how low we have degenerated."
Bulawayo once had a thriving industry, but churches are now the biggest beneficiaries of infrastructure that was built years ago, as the flight of business continues unabated.
Some of the churches that have taken over buildings of companies in Bulawayo include Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa's United Family International Church along Josiah Chinamano Road in Belmont and 15th Avenue.
The church took over a building of one of the city's biggest textile companies, Textile Mills, which employed hundreds of workers during its operation, but now it has been converted into a church with a capacity of 3 000 people.
Textile Mills shut down after it was operating at low capacity owing to lack of funds and had even applied for the Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund to no avail.
Another Pentecostal church, the Revelation Church of God - at Kelvin industrial area in Nkulumane suburb - took over the premises of wholesale Goveya Enterprises.
A shop operating along 14th Avenue was converted to a worship place by Cenacle of the Holy Spirit church.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Ndebele questioned why the central government was not taking any decisive action to revive industries.
"Why is our Government standing aloof when industries are closing left, right and centre?
"Bulawayo is now a church town. Where industries used to be, there are now churches all over," said Ndebele.
He added "I was speaking to municipality officials - everyone would know that we have one of the strictest councils in the land - they are now mooting a situation where they will allow women to keep chickens in what used to be factories. This is how low we have degenerated."
Bulawayo once had a thriving industry, but churches are now the biggest beneficiaries of infrastructure that was built years ago, as the flight of business continues unabated.
Some of the churches that have taken over buildings of companies in Bulawayo include Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa's United Family International Church along Josiah Chinamano Road in Belmont and 15th Avenue.
The church took over a building of one of the city's biggest textile companies, Textile Mills, which employed hundreds of workers during its operation, but now it has been converted into a church with a capacity of 3 000 people.
Textile Mills shut down after it was operating at low capacity owing to lack of funds and had even applied for the Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund to no avail.
Another Pentecostal church, the Revelation Church of God - at Kelvin industrial area in Nkulumane suburb - took over the premises of wholesale Goveya Enterprises.
A shop operating along 14th Avenue was converted to a worship place by Cenacle of the Holy Spirit church.
Source - Byo24News
