Grace Mugabe summons church leaders

via Grace Mugabe summons church leaders – NewsDay Zimbabwe 7 October 2014 by Everson Mushava/Nunurai Jena

HEADS of denominations and church leaders from all the country’s provinces have reportedly been summoned to visit First Lady Grace Mugabe’s Mazowe Orphanage Home today, in a move believed to be part of her political campaign ahead of the ruling Zanu PF elective congress in December.

Grace has hosted several key stakeholders at her orphanage since her endorsement in June this year to lead the Women’s League.

Other groups that have been wined and dined at the centre include the Women’s League, Youth League and traditional leaders, who have all unanimously pledged to endorse her at the congress running from December 9 – 14.

A religious leader who declined to be named said: “Yes, we have been invited. The meeting starts at 9am in Mazowe.”

Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) pastor Tawanda Munaki also confirmed receiving an invite to the function which would be held under the auspices of the National Day of Prayer.

The EFZ is an umbrella body for all Pentecostal churches.

NewsDay is reliably informed that apostolic sects and affiliate members of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches have also been invited to the meeting, with invitation letters dispatched by the President’s Office.

Buoyed by the recent award of a controversial doctorate by the University of Zimbabwe last month, Grace has also launched a whirlwind tour of provinces addressing campaign rallies to launch her political career.

She has already held rallies in Mashonaland West and Midlands. Tomorrow, she is expected to address a similar rally in Harare before moving to Mutare on Friday and Hwange on Saturday.

Harare provincial chairperson Amos Midzi yesterday urged party members to turn up in large numbers at Grace’s rally at the City Sports Stadium.

“On Wednesday, we will be receiving the First Lady to address a rally. We will be welcoming her at the City Sports Stadium.

As a province, we will prepare to welcome her in a manner befitting her status. Let us all turn up in large numbers and show that we are united and organised,” Midzi said.

He added: “We will take the opportunity to tell the First Lady of the challenges the people of Harare are facing.”

Grace has taken the rallies as a platform to attack Zanu PF bigwigs and opposition leaders who she accuses as feigning love for her husband, President Robert Mugabe, while plotting to overthrow him.