By Chantel Takudzwa Zambukira
The church, religious leaders and Government must work together in the nearly two decades long fight against “illegal sanctions”.
This was said by acting President Constantino Chiwenga during the annual National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service that is held at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
Acting President Chiwenga led a high powered delegation of Government officials to this event that is held by Family of God church annually at ZITF. Present at this Friday event was the Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Judith Ncube, Pan- African Parliament President Chief Fortune Charumbira, Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Anxious Masuka and thousands of ZANU-PF supporters.
Vice President Chiwenga said sanctions have hurt Zimbabweans of all walks of life.
He took the opportunity to Salute the Southern African Development Community and the rest of the world for calling for the unconditional scrapping of these measures that were imposed on this country at the turn of the century.
“The sanctions were slapped on us because of our agrarian reforms that we implemented due to land imbalance created by colonialism. This is our God given land, we will jealousy guard it with our hearts and soul. Therefore, the church and the Government must work together to defend our Canaan,” the acting President said.
“I am surprised that some of our fellow citizens are rubbing shoulders with Americans. Encouraging Westerners to impose more penalties on us . This has crippled projects and systems that are meant to better the lives of all Zimbabweans,” the former Zimbabwe Defence Forces Army General Chiwenga said.
“We have done well as a country, even faced by these odds. We are seeing positives from all our efforts to re-engage with everyone across the world including hostile regimes,” added the acting President who is the Minister of Health and Child Care.
The acting President was speaking during the National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service which is a platform created by the Family of God church in which the believers ( Christians) meet the country’s leadership to intercede for the nation.
According to the organisers the service is also held by Pro- Government denominations to denounce sanctions on Zimbabwe by the West.