News / Religion
Bulawayo 24 interview with Reverend Levy Moyo
15 Sep 2012 at 07:04hrs | Views
Bulawayo 24 Interview with the Reverend Levy Moyo, Former Secretary General of Apostolic Church Zimbabwe, who ends his twenty-year exile by visiting Zimbabwe and commenting on the current situation in the country.
1: Rev Levy Moyo I understand you were in Zimbabwe after a long time being abroad, Can you tell us what do you think about the church there:
People in Zimbabwe have moved on comparing to Diasporians we are still behind because we still suspect each other as political agents. As a church we are divided along party lines, which is not acceptable. You cannot pastor a church which brings all people who have different persuasions and then as a minister of religion you align them to a political party.
2: Rev Levy Moyo we know that the Zimbabwean Christians in Diaspora may have played a big role in prayer and financial support in 2007 and 2008 disturbances. Do you think if the same situation turns up again the church will work together.
Always God has his remnant He might have his 7 000 real prophets who have never bowed to any political slogan or coin.
3: What is it that as a church you need to avoid or say in order for the church to be more effective?
As Pastors and shepherds we must point people to Jesus who the Bible says Governments shall be upon his shoulders. As pastors we have made a mistake leaving our platform which is Jesus shoulders and gone on political platform. I am not saying we should stay away from politics but I am saying we should use the right platform to speak and act. We are prophets on the platform given to us by God not any political terrain or favour.
4: Rev Levy Moyo tell us in a nutshell, is the Christian community in Zimbabwe united as it was during Murambatswina and the elections?
As I said, God will always have his remnant. Your problem is that you ask this question focussing on those who have sold out moved from Jesus' shoulder platform to the worldly materialistic platform.
5: Is there any thing wrong about Bishops being aligned to political parties, isn't that we had Bishop Abel Muzorewa; Rev Ndabaningi Sithole and Rev Canaan Banana and many more?
I knew you will lead to ask me about nationalist who were brave Church leaders, but let me answer then. During Colonial times the Church was led by missionaries who were part of the arm that helmed the Rhodesia regime so it was difficult for the mentioned Bishops to remain on the platform of the regime that maimed bombed people in Mozambique hence they had to form or join parties to rally their support.
But the current Church leaders have the majority of followers to influence as it's assumed we are a Christian country. There is no need for even one Bishop to align himself to a political part except their members. We are called to shepherd flocks who are free to choose which part they support but our job is to influence good governance through the Gospel of peace, forgiveness and love.
We cannot be part of separating people on political bases and uniting them in church and heaven at the same time. We either politicians or preachers. Choose who you will save?
6: Who are your many more? What about Bishop Kunonga, Bishop Msindo Sebastian Bakare, Endrew Wutawunashe, Bishop Mananga, and Dr Shana the list can go on?
I worked with Rev Endrew Wutawunashe and Bishop Mananga while in Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe when I was provincial chairman for EFZ Bulawayo with my eyes I saw them moving to the left hope and I pray for their coming back. Also I pray for my friend Dr Shana as the list goes on to avoid their peril.
Personal I salute Bishop Bakare; Bishop Pius they used the right shoulder to be prophetic voices in our nation, even when the ruling party aligned them to some opposition party. Not only that even when opposition parties capitalised on their limelight they remained on their platform till then. I am saddened to see so many Kunonga syndrome bishops imaging who are aligning themselves to political parties. We are not called to leave what I call "Jesus' Shoulder Platform" and choose to stand on a platform where underneath dead bodies and immorality is. We have made these politicians to be so comfortable for we have left our place. Where are the Nathans the prophet who will speak into our Davids life that womanising and corruption is sin?
7: Rev Levy Moyo you always talk about being a prophetic Voice in the nation. Does that make you different to TB Joshua and Prophet Makandiwa?
Prophetic Voice means speaking as God speaks being a channel, correcting, rebuking, and commanding blessings over a nation as a voice. I do not know TB Joshua personal I do not which too. Simon the sorcerer in the book of Acts 8 was a preacher with great following. He believed that you can buy or sale healing powers and prophetic powers. If Peter and John were sellers of these powers he might have bought the power God forbid they were not.
Being a prophetic voice also its like training a choir which sings with melody. The days of seeing every man who enter our churches as givers who deserve promotion to be deacons or pastors are gone we have to raise and groom Godly civic, politicians activities and we remain as Bishops for thus our highest calling.
I think you understood that, not all called powerful preachers and prophets are not powered by Jesus they claim. So being a prophetic voice is not telling people their mobile numbers and surnames they know them, but it is speaking for the voiceless. Why don't you speak for them that cost of mobile calling is too high in Zimbabwe and that their surnames no longer carry the dignity because they have been misplaced from their father's landmarks?
8: Rev. Levy Moyo seems everybody is for devolution of power in the next Zimbabwe what do you say as Christian?
I believe Devolution of Power is not only Biblical but it's African. But the pagan tendency is always to centralize power. This began with the building of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 which God condemned.
You know and we have seen that power residing in the people is a principle of democratic government, but the government should be kept as close to the people as possible. This can be accomplished by establishing a small national government and strong local and regional governments.
The Biblical Republic had a government that was decentralized, family-based system.
It had local town and tribal (regional) governments that were independent of the national government. They were known as the elders of the cities who met in the gates (Exodus 24: 1); Numbers 11: 16, 17) I believe we saw a glimpse of the set-up in Libya when the rebels were targeting city gates.
If we have such division of powers will be safeguard against the tyranny of centralization since it will allow the people to most fully participate in government and to keep watch over the flow of power through the governing officials. History has shown that the centralization of governmental power destroys the liberty and the rights of the people. The way to have good and safe government is to divide the power among the people and the localities, instead of entrusting it to one body.
9: Rev Levy Moyo you handed the leadership of CZCLUK to Rev. H. Mzuku a Diaspora organisation which you founded what are you going to be doing the coming years?
Thank God for asking a question directed to me I was uncomfortable about your previous questions. The coming years I want to devote myself more in developing coming leaders in local churches in Zimbabwe, United Kingdom and writing books.
10: Yes we once interviewed you on very controversial book "The Gloved Handshake" have you written anymore?
Yes one it is being edited as we speak titled "The Woman in White" I wrote this to celebrate 30 years of marriage.
Rev Levy Moyo Thanks we look forward to speak to you again.
1: Rev Levy Moyo I understand you were in Zimbabwe after a long time being abroad, Can you tell us what do you think about the church there:
People in Zimbabwe have moved on comparing to Diasporians we are still behind because we still suspect each other as political agents. As a church we are divided along party lines, which is not acceptable. You cannot pastor a church which brings all people who have different persuasions and then as a minister of religion you align them to a political party.
2: Rev Levy Moyo we know that the Zimbabwean Christians in Diaspora may have played a big role in prayer and financial support in 2007 and 2008 disturbances. Do you think if the same situation turns up again the church will work together.
Always God has his remnant He might have his 7 000 real prophets who have never bowed to any political slogan or coin.
3: What is it that as a church you need to avoid or say in order for the church to be more effective?
As Pastors and shepherds we must point people to Jesus who the Bible says Governments shall be upon his shoulders. As pastors we have made a mistake leaving our platform which is Jesus shoulders and gone on political platform. I am not saying we should stay away from politics but I am saying we should use the right platform to speak and act. We are prophets on the platform given to us by God not any political terrain or favour.
4: Rev Levy Moyo tell us in a nutshell, is the Christian community in Zimbabwe united as it was during Murambatswina and the elections?
As I said, God will always have his remnant. Your problem is that you ask this question focussing on those who have sold out moved from Jesus' shoulder platform to the worldly materialistic platform.
5: Is there any thing wrong about Bishops being aligned to political parties, isn't that we had Bishop Abel Muzorewa; Rev Ndabaningi Sithole and Rev Canaan Banana and many more?
I knew you will lead to ask me about nationalist who were brave Church leaders, but let me answer then. During Colonial times the Church was led by missionaries who were part of the arm that helmed the Rhodesia regime so it was difficult for the mentioned Bishops to remain on the platform of the regime that maimed bombed people in Mozambique hence they had to form or join parties to rally their support.
But the current Church leaders have the majority of followers to influence as it's assumed we are a Christian country. There is no need for even one Bishop to align himself to a political part except their members. We are called to shepherd flocks who are free to choose which part they support but our job is to influence good governance through the Gospel of peace, forgiveness and love.
We cannot be part of separating people on political bases and uniting them in church and heaven at the same time. We either politicians or preachers. Choose who you will save?
6: Who are your many more? What about Bishop Kunonga, Bishop Msindo Sebastian Bakare, Endrew Wutawunashe, Bishop Mananga, and Dr Shana the list can go on?
Personal I salute Bishop Bakare; Bishop Pius they used the right shoulder to be prophetic voices in our nation, even when the ruling party aligned them to some opposition party. Not only that even when opposition parties capitalised on their limelight they remained on their platform till then. I am saddened to see so many Kunonga syndrome bishops imaging who are aligning themselves to political parties. We are not called to leave what I call "Jesus' Shoulder Platform" and choose to stand on a platform where underneath dead bodies and immorality is. We have made these politicians to be so comfortable for we have left our place. Where are the Nathans the prophet who will speak into our Davids life that womanising and corruption is sin?
7: Rev Levy Moyo you always talk about being a prophetic Voice in the nation. Does that make you different to TB Joshua and Prophet Makandiwa?
Prophetic Voice means speaking as God speaks being a channel, correcting, rebuking, and commanding blessings over a nation as a voice. I do not know TB Joshua personal I do not which too. Simon the sorcerer in the book of Acts 8 was a preacher with great following. He believed that you can buy or sale healing powers and prophetic powers. If Peter and John were sellers of these powers he might have bought the power God forbid they were not.
Being a prophetic voice also its like training a choir which sings with melody. The days of seeing every man who enter our churches as givers who deserve promotion to be deacons or pastors are gone we have to raise and groom Godly civic, politicians activities and we remain as Bishops for thus our highest calling.
I think you understood that, not all called powerful preachers and prophets are not powered by Jesus they claim. So being a prophetic voice is not telling people their mobile numbers and surnames they know them, but it is speaking for the voiceless. Why don't you speak for them that cost of mobile calling is too high in Zimbabwe and that their surnames no longer carry the dignity because they have been misplaced from their father's landmarks?
8: Rev. Levy Moyo seems everybody is for devolution of power in the next Zimbabwe what do you say as Christian?
I believe Devolution of Power is not only Biblical but it's African. But the pagan tendency is always to centralize power. This began with the building of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 which God condemned.
You know and we have seen that power residing in the people is a principle of democratic government, but the government should be kept as close to the people as possible. This can be accomplished by establishing a small national government and strong local and regional governments.
The Biblical Republic had a government that was decentralized, family-based system.
It had local town and tribal (regional) governments that were independent of the national government. They were known as the elders of the cities who met in the gates (Exodus 24: 1); Numbers 11: 16, 17) I believe we saw a glimpse of the set-up in Libya when the rebels were targeting city gates.
If we have such division of powers will be safeguard against the tyranny of centralization since it will allow the people to most fully participate in government and to keep watch over the flow of power through the governing officials. History has shown that the centralization of governmental power destroys the liberty and the rights of the people. The way to have good and safe government is to divide the power among the people and the localities, instead of entrusting it to one body.
9: Rev Levy Moyo you handed the leadership of CZCLUK to Rev. H. Mzuku a Diaspora organisation which you founded what are you going to be doing the coming years?
Thank God for asking a question directed to me I was uncomfortable about your previous questions. The coming years I want to devote myself more in developing coming leaders in local churches in Zimbabwe, United Kingdom and writing books.
10: Yes we once interviewed you on very controversial book "The Gloved Handshake" have you written anymore?
Yes one it is being edited as we speak titled "The Woman in White" I wrote this to celebrate 30 years of marriage.
Rev Levy Moyo Thanks we look forward to speak to you again.
Source - Bulawayo 24
