Catholics, Vapostori endorse Love Zimbabwe Festival

HARARE - Zimbabwe is set to witness a monumental spiritual gathering, the Love Zimbabwe Festival, endorsed by prominent church umbrella bodies, including the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC), Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), and Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (UDACIZ), with everyone promising that the message will revolve around hope amid rising socio-economic discrepancies countrywide.

The festival, scheduled for September 26-28, 2025, at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Harare, aims to spread the message of Jesus Christ across communities and denominations.

Speaking during a press briefing in Harare this Monday, Father Johanes  Maseko from Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) has said the conference is important since it will be packed with message of hope amongst communities countrywide.

"It is a greatest opportunity for our country and as christians, we are a religion of love and the festival will be our embrace of our country in the love of who we are. We are coming together as christians to warm, strengthen and renew each other," Maseko said.

"The coming together of churches is a testimony and witness that there is no rivalry in the proclamation of the gospel, but merely a message of hope to everyone in the wake of existing difficulties which christians encounter in their daily lives," Maseko added.

Meanwhile, UDACIZA General Secretary, Innocent Chitanda has said that, as apostolic churches, they have unanimously agreed to congregate with all christians during the festival, with one goal of winning souls by giving a message of hope.

"We have unanimously agreed to congregate with like-minded christian bodies in the interest of tolerance and co-existence while prioritising to spread the message of hope to citizens. We are united as one people before God regardless of colour, race or creed," Chitanda said.

The festival seeks to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, inspire hope, healing, and national transformation through collective worship and outreach.

Internationally renowned evangelist Andrew Palau, son of the late global evangelist Luis Palau, will lead the crusade, bringing his dynamic and transformative gospel outreach experience.

The festival is a result of ecumenical collaboration between major Christian denominations in Zimbabwe, demonstrating unity and a shared commitment to spreading the Gospel.

Thousands of people are expected to attend, with many anticipated to come to faith in Jesus Christ, while believers will be encouraged and equipped for evangelism.

As build up to the main event, outreach programmes have been rolled out to orphanages, prisons and schools.

The Love Zimbabwe Festival serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity and collective action in spreading the Gospel. Church leaders and participants alike are encouraged to come together, putting aside denominational differences, to proclaim the message of love and salvation.