Churches must preach peace, says Chihuri

CHURCH leaders must stop using the pulpit to pull the nation into a pit by their sermons being shared out of context but be peace makers.

Commissioner General of Police Dr. Augustine Chihuri said this in his speech at a briefing and debriefing of Darfur, Liberia and South Sudan police contingents yesterday.

"Church leaders, pastors and so called prophets are blessed in being peace makers but because of the love of money some have turned pulpits into an abomination of desolation reading scriptures and interpreting them out of context," said Comm-Gen Dr. Chihuri.

"It is our view that the nobility of peacekeeping should continue to be upheld hence the organisation will continue to support and have our officers serving on these international peacekeeping duties.

"We have all heard reports from the contingents, of the devastating effects of war. War is destructive. War creates a vacuum.

"In this vacuum countless lives are lost, plundering and looting is the order of the day, the most vulnerable are the most exposed and most tragically the essence of humanity is lost.

"Peace is a delicate gift from the Almighty God. When peace is lost, it is difficult if not impossible to regain it.

"It is a myth that when peace is lost, it can be easily gained. This is why it is said people pick up the pieces after any war. This is an illusion. Pieces can never substitute the destroyed whole.

"As a nation, we need to guard jealously the peace we enjoy. His Excellence, President Mugabe enjoined us to hold fast to the peace we have by ensuring that it is the responsibility of everyone to safeguard, promote, cultivate and sustain peace.

"This is why we earnestly urge and appeal to some of our people out there to desist from acts that ignite, flare and fan violence.

"What is most needful is to ventilate the freshness of peace for unimpeded socio-economic development in the spirit of our cardinal developmental agenda, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation (ZIM-ASSET)."

Comm-Gen Dr. Chihuri warned people who are after disturbing peace that police will make sure law and order is maintained and bring all the perpetrators to book.

"What does one gain from running up and down the streets, does that give you food, vadii kunoita toyi toyi varikuminda vawana chekudya hazvinakidze kuti unoshandiswa kuitiswa izvozvo wawanamubhadharo we tear gas," he said.

He thanked returning officers for remaining faithful to the mandate and terms of reference conferred upon them saying terms of reference become the radar and compass.

He wished the outgoing officer, Chief Inspector Christopher Tapfumanei all the best as he goes on to join his colleagues who are already in the mission area in South Sudan.