As long as the churches continue to preach peace, unity, and the law of love and supporting government initiatives, there is guarantee of freedom of worship in Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said during the Silver Jubilee celebrations of episcopal tenure of Reverend Christopher Ndlovu, Archbishop of Roman Catholic, held at Catholic University recently.
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“I am so excited to be invited to witness this episcopal Silver jubilee celebrations of Archbishop Ndlovu. I envy Catholic church for preaching peace, love and unity in all its parishes across the country. We have noted that there is no province or location without the Roman Catholic church that only gives us assurance that the church has grown its wings through Christ who is its founder.
“The church is a strategic institution for social economics develop and a critical core of development, Catholic is represented in every province, I urge you Catholic members to remain unwavering to the guidance from bishops as they preach message of peace, development and love. We guarantee freedom of worship to citizens and non-citizens of Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.
Quoting from Matthew 5 vs 13 the President urges the church not lose its saltiness by losing hope in leading people to God and abide with the word of God.
“As the President, my role is to make sure there is better living and accessing of health facilities to all and education to citizens and other things. I am, therefore, calling everyone to anchor on ‘Nyika inovakwa ne vene vayo’ mantra for development. The church’s duty is to preach and give hope, hence, being Ambassadors of Christ. Therefore, let us all arise to fight an arising epidemic of drug and substance abuse to better our country for the generations to come. Let us build and mold our communities to achieve a better country, let us embrace what is good and condemn what is bad.
“I am excited to witness the multitude celebrating with you this signifies you are a true shepherded Bishop, ” said the President
Through his experience of visiting the Pope in Rome with the late former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President Mnangagwa described the Catholic Church as one of the first and best church in teaching discipline and a church that does not tolerate immorality and violence perpetrators. He narrated his past experience in Vatican City
“I was happy to have accompanied the late president in Rome, we got there and met the Pope. The experience was awesome and it gave me assurance that our country has good relations with Catholic leadership, the most precious experience was when we walked through the Sacred Catholic door which opens once after three decades, it was awesome. I believe I am a Methodist member, but through that process I was made part of Catholic,” said the President.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged to tar the Catholic University roads inside the campus to better driving at the sight during events
“To the Bishop, we urge you to build, mordenise, the duty is now on your shoulders. You are not just a leader of Catholics but you are now a leader that will speak to entire Zimbabwe, for it is God who blessed you to lead and as government will also be listening from you. As you celebrate your silver jubilee, may your faith be strengthening by Christ,” said President Mnangagwa.
Bishop Ndlovu was ordained as a priest on 28 August 1983 and on 9 February 1999, he was promoted into the office of Bishop for Hwange. He was then ordained Bishop of Hwange in the same year. In 2004, he was appointed and installed as Bishop of Harare to date
For the past years Bishop Ndlovu has been working tirelessly for positive change and preaching message of love and Synod in church and communities across the whole country.
In his remarks, Reverend Ndlovu reflected on the faithfulness of God as he journeyed the pastoral terrain.
“When you come to a day like this, you start looking back. What happened for me to be here?” God can still write straight on crooked lines, … I believe that,” the archbishop pondered.
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The event was marked by the presence of notable figures, along with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who sent congratulatory letters to the archbishop, added to the grandeur of the event, including members of the Archbishop Ndlovu’s family.
