Sinokubonga Nkala
Nqobile Bhebhe, nqobile.bhebhe@chronicle.co.zw
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to partnering with churches, saying religious organisations play a critical role in fostering peace, nation-building, and economic development.
He made the remarks during the commissioning of the state-of-the-art 10 500-seater Harvest House International Church auditorium in Bulawayo’s Selbourne Brooke suburb.
The facility, which began construction in October 2018, is a testament to resilience and faith, having been completed during the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“According to your brief, the construction of this building commenced in 2018 and continued throughout the trying period of the Covid-19 pandemic. The completion of this building, therefore, stands as towering evidence of the determination, hard work and resilience of Harvest House International Church,” he said.
“Through this mammoth project, you demonstrated faith that moves mountains, and you are a living example that with God, all things are possible.”
The sprawling 10-acre complex is one of the largest of its kind in Zimbabwe. It features five seminar halls, a gymnasium, a food court, a restaurant, and a medical centre equipped with a pharmacy, dental surgery, general practitioner services, a blood laboratory, and physiotherapy facilities. Additionally, the site includes multiple boardrooms and six retail outlets available for rent, catering to businesses such as jewellery and clothing.
The President commended the church for integrating community outreach into its mission, noting that the facility will offer both spiritual and socio-economic benefits.
“This structure is one of the largest of its kind in our country. I am, further pleased to learn that in addition to spiritual nourishment, which is the reason for its existence, this building will also provide an outreach to the community.
“It offers other facilities such as a gymnasium, restaurants, health and wellness centre, a mini-mall recording studios seminar hall,” he said.
President Mnangagwa encouraged the church to expand its presence, particularly in rural areas, in alignment with the Government’s Vision 2030 philosophy of “leaving no one and no place behind.”
“In line with Vision 2030, I challenge you to plant many more churches in rural areas, no one and no place should be left behind. The gospel should be preached to all our people wherever they are, as it was in the early church,” he said.
The President also praised Harvest House International Church for nurturing leaders who contribute significantly to various sectors of society, both locally and abroad.
“Some of these leaders occupy influential positions in our nation, across various sectors of Government and industry while others play their part in socio-economic development in the diaspora. Siyabonga, tinotenda.”
“Going forward, I exhort you to scale up initiatives not only to inculcate Godly values and work ethics, but also spur production and productivity among your congregants towards economic prosperity as well as higher quality of life in our motherland,” he said.
He further called on the church to support national efforts in combating drug and substance abuse, particularly among the youth.
“The Harvest House Campus Ministry programme at our national institutions of higher education such as the National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo Polytechnic, the University of Zimbabwe, Hillside Teachers College, Mpilo School of Nursing and United Bulawayo Hospitals School of Nursing among others are welcome,” said President Mnangagwa.
“These must also serve to foster unity, peace, love, harmony and greater social cohesion in our young adults while improving both their physical and spiritual health.”
Highlighting the church’s remarkable growth, President Mnangagwa noted that Harvest House International, founded in 1995 by Bishops Dr Collin and Dr Sarah Nyathi, has expanded from eight congregants in a home setting to over 800 branches worldwide, including in Botswana, Namibia, and the United Kingdom.
As the church continues its mission, the President assured it of the Government’s unwavering support, emphasising the shared responsibility of building a prosperous Zimbabwe rooted in its African identity and heritage.
“My Government has always cherished the role of the church in nation-building, as the church is a key partner with multi-dimensional responsibilities,” said President Mnangagwa.
“We must individually and collectively play our part towards socio-economic development, modernisation and industrialisation of our motherland, Zimbabwe, and the greater continent of Africa. That responsibility lies primarily with us.”
