ZCC congregants remember late founder

TENS of thousands of Zion Christian Church (ZCC) members converged at Defe Dopota in Gokwe South as the church marked 40 years since the death of its founder Reverend Samuel Mutendi.

Speakers at the gathering called for peace at all costs and urged Zimbabweans not to be used by foreigners to destabilise the country.

Dubbed Zuva ra Samere (Samuel day) @40, the church gathering attracted people from all walks of life with some coming from African countries, the United States and the United Kingdom among other countries.

Also in attendance was Prince Hlanganiso, the son of South Africa’s Zulu King Zwelithini and Princess Wandile from South Africa.

Addressing the pilgrims at the closing ceremony, ZCC leader Dr Nehemiah Mutendi encouraged people to promote peace and love from family level to national level. He said the nation needs peace at all costs. Dr Mutendi encouraged Zimbabweans to work for their families, church and their nation.

He said people should not be used by outsiders to cause mayhem and disorder in the country.

“In Zimbabwe we are one people. We might have different tribes but we are one people. So don’t be used to fight each other. Don’t be used by your next door neighbours to fight each other because we are one people.

“Mu (A) Zion must love his family, his church and his country. Don’t be used, don’t be ill advised. You should work for your country and for your economy,” Dr Mutendi said.

“Order is important in the church, in the family and in the country.”

He said there was a need for people to pray for the country.

Dr Mutendi said one should never be tired of his country or his family; institutions which he said are God given.

“You can’t call yourself a Zimbabwean when you don’t want to work for the country. You can’t call yourself a Zimbabwean when you destroy its infrastructure. Don’t be like fools.

“A certain fool went and beat up his wife after being lied to by another man who was saying that he always beats up his wife when in actual fact he would beat up a cow skin. Don’t be like that. Don’t be fools. Don’t be used by other people to denounce your country, your family and church,” said Dr Mutendi.

He said some foreigners protect their countries and their leaders but come here to use locals to do the opposite.

“Some people protect their leaders and countries and when they come here, they use you to attack them. Some people have oil or natural resources in their countries but want to come here and exploit what is ours. We should protect ours,” said Dr Mutendi.

Rev Mutendi founded the ZCC in 1913 and died in 1976. — @pchitumba1