News / National
Mugabe can end terrorism
09 Feb 2015 at 17:27hrs | Views
The appointment of President Robert Mugabe as chairperson of the African Union is expected to mark the end of terrorism in Africa, the Council of African Apostles (CAA) has said.
The council, which consists of influential church leaders from across Africa, met in Harare for its 10th summit which ended on Friday after three days of open discussions between the church delegates and members of the public.
Speaking at a press briefing held on Thursday by leader of the hosting New Life Covenant Church, Bishop Tudor Bismark and Kenya's Mark Kuriyaki said President Mugabe's appointment to the AU chairship brings hope to Kenyans given the Zimbabwean head of state's experience in politics.
"Islam is not terrorism and not all Moslems are terrorists. As the church in Kenya, we have begun working together with Moslems to fight terrorism in our country through exposing terrorism for what it really is, a political and cruel practice, not the perceived religious war.
"We hope (President) Mugabe, being a long-serving African leader, will help us achieve a terror-less continent or at least step towards stopping this inhuman act," said Kuriyaki.
President Mugabe was elected chair of the AU on January 30 during the 24th ordinary summit of the General Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Kenya and Nigeria are among African countries with a large population of Islamic worshippers giving rise to the killing of Christians and kidnapping of women and children by terror squads namely Al Shebaab and Boko Haram in the two countries respectively.
Bismark said terrorism had affected economies in Kenya and Nigeria and a failure to contain it will have a negative effect on Africa's economy.
"We are appealing to terrorists to desist from their acts of terror so that as a continent we can attract foreign investment. Terrorism has begun affecting investments, especially in Kenya and Nigeria, soon it will impact on the entire African economy,"said Bismark.
"If Boko Haram and Al Shabaab are exerting terror in the name of religion, then we as Christian leaders should be at the forefront of negotiations with these groups."
Meanwhile, CAA has opposed same sex marriages and legalising of gay relationships in Africa.
"As a church, we are not a home of perfect beings and homosexuality is a sin just like adultery and theft. National laws are against all these sins thus, homosexuality is no exception," said Bishop Joe Imakando of Zambian Bread of lnternational Church.
The council, which consists of influential church leaders from across Africa, met in Harare for its 10th summit which ended on Friday after three days of open discussions between the church delegates and members of the public.
Speaking at a press briefing held on Thursday by leader of the hosting New Life Covenant Church, Bishop Tudor Bismark and Kenya's Mark Kuriyaki said President Mugabe's appointment to the AU chairship brings hope to Kenyans given the Zimbabwean head of state's experience in politics.
"Islam is not terrorism and not all Moslems are terrorists. As the church in Kenya, we have begun working together with Moslems to fight terrorism in our country through exposing terrorism for what it really is, a political and cruel practice, not the perceived religious war.
"We hope (President) Mugabe, being a long-serving African leader, will help us achieve a terror-less continent or at least step towards stopping this inhuman act," said Kuriyaki.
President Mugabe was elected chair of the AU on January 30 during the 24th ordinary summit of the General Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Bismark said terrorism had affected economies in Kenya and Nigeria and a failure to contain it will have a negative effect on Africa's economy.
"We are appealing to terrorists to desist from their acts of terror so that as a continent we can attract foreign investment. Terrorism has begun affecting investments, especially in Kenya and Nigeria, soon it will impact on the entire African economy,"said Bismark.
"If Boko Haram and Al Shabaab are exerting terror in the name of religion, then we as Christian leaders should be at the forefront of negotiations with these groups."
Meanwhile, CAA has opposed same sex marriages and legalising of gay relationships in Africa.
"As a church, we are not a home of perfect beings and homosexuality is a sin just like adultery and theft. National laws are against all these sins thus, homosexuality is no exception," said Bishop Joe Imakando of Zambian Bread of lnternational Church.
Source - Zim Mail
