News / National
Grace Mugabe want minority apostolic sects advised to join main churches
06 Nov 2017 at 05:26hrs | Views
First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe has urged minority apostolic sects to join the main churches with a view to reducing the number of congregations into manageable units for purposes of getting support from Government.
Addressing a number of apostolic churches in Harare yesterday, Dr Mugabe said Government was willing to support the churches through allocating them church stands.
She said some of the churches were too small, making it difficult for Government to allocate a church stand to a "five-member" church.
"The churches are too many, some with three or five members," she said. "Allocating 1 000 church stands to a few people can be costly.
"I suggest smaller churches should join the main ones, making it easier for us to chip in and allocate stands or even render other forms of assistance."
The First Lady said the churches, if they properly organised themselves, may be given farms for income generating projects.
"If you come together and form bigger churches, we will be able to assist you and answer to your problems," she said. "Apart from church stands, you may be considered for farms where you can do your farming projects."
Dr Mugabe was responding to the request by the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) life president Archbishop Johannes Ndanga for church stands, among other assistance.
Addressing the gathering, Bishop Ndanga said: "We want church stands for free. We also want our pastors to be accorded marriage officer status."
Dr Mugabe urged the church leaders to encourage their membership to register to vote in the 2018 election.
She urged the believers to continue praying for the nation and its leadership to ensure peace prevailed.
Dr Mugabe hailed members of the apostolic churches for supporting Zanu-PF and Government programmes.
"We respect you Vapostori," she said. "You must not be looked down upon. You have always been with us as an all-weather friend.
"In times of trouble, joy and sorrow, you are always with us. Your hearts are as white and clean as your garments. You are hardworking and we always see you even at the borders of our country, working hard to fend for your families. Keep on working hard."
Addressing a number of apostolic churches in Harare yesterday, Dr Mugabe said Government was willing to support the churches through allocating them church stands.
She said some of the churches were too small, making it difficult for Government to allocate a church stand to a "five-member" church.
"The churches are too many, some with three or five members," she said. "Allocating 1 000 church stands to a few people can be costly.
"I suggest smaller churches should join the main ones, making it easier for us to chip in and allocate stands or even render other forms of assistance."
The First Lady said the churches, if they properly organised themselves, may be given farms for income generating projects.
"If you come together and form bigger churches, we will be able to assist you and answer to your problems," she said. "Apart from church stands, you may be considered for farms where you can do your farming projects."
Addressing the gathering, Bishop Ndanga said: "We want church stands for free. We also want our pastors to be accorded marriage officer status."
Dr Mugabe urged the church leaders to encourage their membership to register to vote in the 2018 election.
She urged the believers to continue praying for the nation and its leadership to ensure peace prevailed.
Dr Mugabe hailed members of the apostolic churches for supporting Zanu-PF and Government programmes.
"We respect you Vapostori," she said. "You must not be looked down upon. You have always been with us as an all-weather friend.
"In times of trouble, joy and sorrow, you are always with us. Your hearts are as white and clean as your garments. You are hardworking and we always see you even at the borders of our country, working hard to fend for your families. Keep on working hard."
Source - chronicle
