Tinotenda Hove- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared that Zanu PF will remain in power indefinitely, using a church gathering in Harare to reinforce the ruling party’s political dominance while calling on religious organisations to deepen their cooperation with Government.

Speaking at the National Spiritual Conference of the Johane Masowe Chishanu Church in Highfield last week, Mnangagwa urged churches to move beyond their traditional religious functions and become active participants in Government programmes.

He said churches should support the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), national clean-up campaigns and community development projects, while also helping Government confront poverty, drug abuse, crime and youth violence.

“Moving ahead towards the attainment of Vision 2030, I look forward to see all the churches of our beloved motherland playing their part in the programmes and projects outlined in the National Development Strategy 2,” he said.

Mnangagwa called for closer cooperation between churches, Government officials, local authorities and traditional leaders, effectively placing religious institutions within the Government’s wider development framework.

“All churches in the provinces should continue working with Ministers of Provincial Affairs and Devolution, all arms of Government, councils and traditional leaders as we develop our regions and provinces,” he said.

He also appealed to churches to participate in the Government’s national clean-up campaigns.

“I also invite the churches to collaborate with Government in all programmes, including the national clean-up campaigns for cleaner living and working spaces,” he said.

The President placed particular emphasis on the role of churches in dealing with social problems affecting young people, including drug abuse, violence and crime.

“I call upon the church to scale up programmes that fight the social vices in our society which include poverty, drugs and substance abuse, violence and crime, especially among the youth,” he said.

He further urged religious organisations to assist vulnerable children, widows and elderly citizens.

“In addition, I urge you to also help increase the number of vulnerable children that have access to education. Let us never neglect the widows and the elderly,” he said.

Mnangagwa also called on churches to provide sanctuary to vulnerable children and discourage young people from engaging in drug abuse.

“Imi vapostori, you worship freely; let the youth stay away from drugs. Let the Church be a refuge for children fleeing from evil,” he said.

The President also used the gathering to push for increased agricultural production ahead of the 2026/2027 farming season. Despite warnings of a possible El Niño season, he urged churches to encourage communities to intensify farming and pray for sufficient rainfall.

“Even though those responsible for weather forecasts say there could be an El Niño, we encourage you to join other churches in the country in praying for rain,” he said.

“We want our 2026/2027 agricultural season to be productive. Let us encourage one another wherever we are to farm intensively and fill our granaries.”

He said food self-sufficiency remained a priority for both households and the country.

“Our households and country must continue to be food self-sufficient,” said Mnangagwa.

However, the religious gathering also took a distinctly political turn when Mnangagwa used the platform to declare the continued dominance of Zanu PF.

“ZANU PF is going nowhere; it will continue ruling, ruling and ruling, Hallelujah,” he said.
The statement underlined the increasingly blurred lines between political mobilisation and church engagements, with Mnangagwa also thanking the Apostolic faith community for its support for the process that resulted in Constitutional Amendment No. 3.

He said Government would continue guaranteeing freedom of worship while expecting churches to contribute to its development agenda.
“As the Government of the people of Zimbabwe . . . we will continue to uphold the principle that churches must always have the proper freedom to worship,” he said.

Mnangagwa praised Johane Masowe Chishanu for donating medical equipment, including 570 hospital beds and 560 wheelchairs, as well as other supplies.

He also singled out church elder Madzibaba Wicknell Chivhayo for his philanthropic activities and contributions to the church and wider community.

The President maintained that national development could not be achieved by Government alone, calling for an even stronger relationship between churches and the State.
“Let us continue to work hard for a strong partnership between the Church and State as we promote Godly values and the overall development of our motherland, Zimbabwe,” he said.

The event was attended by Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire, Presidential adviser Dr Paul Tungwarara, Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume and other senior Government officials.