The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT is on a drive to promote universal access to information by licensing and ensuring the operationalisation of both community and campus radio stations, a development that churches and other religious organisation must seize to establish their own stations, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Speaking on behalf of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa during ZAOGA Forward in Faith 63rd celebrations held at Mutare Showgrounds on Sunday, the Director of Strategic Planning Monitoring and Evaluation in the Ministry, Dr Nanette Silukhuni, said: “I am humbled and honoured to be part of the Forward in Faith Ministry to mark the centenary celebration of our founder Dr Ezekiel Guti who turned 100 years old, who has been preaching the gospel for the past 75 years.
“In response to President Mnangagwa’s call, my ministry has aggressively championed universal access to information by licensing and ensuring the operationalisation of both community and campus radio stations, across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe.
“This underscores the importance that media plays in national development. To date, 14 community radio stations have been licensed, while 12 are on air. Nine campus radio stations have been licensed, while seven are on air.
“More are on the road. This presents a huge opportunity for ZAOGA FIF to tap into the media landscape for both their campus and community radio licencing. We do have a section for communities of interest who include religious organisations.”
ZAOGA Forward in Faith in Mutare joined their congregants around the globe in celebrating their leader, Dr Ezekiel Guti’s 100th birthday as well as the church’s 63rd years in existence.
ZAOGA FIF has churches in more than 165 countries worldwide.
Minister Mutsvangwa said: “These are 100 years of a humble servant of the Lord walking in divine favour. These are 100 years dwelling under the anointing and walking in wisdom.
“We have witnessed the growth of this church from humbled beginnings to a global force in international ministry with branches in over 165 countries.
“The history of the church is sheer testimony of God’s grace. You have remained a strong strategic partner and a promoter of Government programmes. You have supported Government’s vision to improve the livelihoods of people in areas of health, education, housing and social responsibility, to mention, but a few.”
She applauded ZAOGA for contributing immensely to national development initiatives.
“Under the Second Republic, His Excellency, President Mnangagwa has championed the National Development Strategy (NDS1) with a developmental call – nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.
“In this regard, your response to Government has been seen through the numerous projects and initiatives you have accomplished and these include the construction of hospitals and clinics like the Mbuya Dorcas Hospital and Bonda-Makava Clinic, the construction of schools such as the Ezekiel Guti Academy here in Mutare and other schools around the country, the construction of houses of worship around the country the setting up of an indigenous university – the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University in Bindura, the construction of centres for the disabled such as the ZAOGA Disabled Centre in Murambinda as well as orphanages such as the Forward in Faith Children’s Home again here in Mutare,” she said.
