The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
CHURCHES in Zimbabwe have paid tribute to frontline workers saying they have become heroes and resilient foot soldiers who continue to work around the clock, putting themselves and their families at risk as they carry out their duties amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zimbabwe Amalgamated Council of Churches (ZACC) patron Mr Jimayi Muduvuri and president of Association of the Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (AACZ) Archbishop Tsungai Vushe have called on the country to honour and pray for the essential service providers saying they were the unheralded heroes of our time as a nation.
In a joint statement, the church representative bodies said doctors, nurses, soldiers, police officers, journalists, security guards, fire brigade and pharmacists, among other essential and frontline workers should be applauded for standing in the line of the pandemic where chances of being infected were high.
Archbishop Vushe said he was appealing to all churches and the people of Zimbabwe to join forces and pray for the unsung heroes who are working continuously to get more strength.
“I implore churches in the country and the people of Zimbabwe to continuously pray for our frontline workers. These continue working to help our people and make sure that everything in the country runs smoothly in these dangerous times. With all the challenges we are facing due to the pandemic they continue to avail their services putting themselves and their families at great risk,” he said.
He also noted that there were various good Samaritans who were also working tirelessly to assist the needy and vulnerable during the Covid-19 pandemic. Archbishop Vushe added:
“We acknowledge and are thankful to the efforts of the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa who is trying by all means to assist those people living with disabilities so that they do not feel neglected in such hard times.”
The Archbishop also recognised efforts by Mr Mavhunga in Bulawayo who was also helping the needy and MREF which is led by Mr Muduvuri who was also working very hard to make sure the needy and disabled were assisted.
“I’m appealing to the business community and church leaders during this difficult time to help those who are in need especially the vulnerable ones,” added Archbishop Vushe.
The ZACC patron Mr Muduvuri said working together to assist those who have little to nothing to support themselves was essential and urged church leaders to make use of social media platforms to help people in prayers, preaching hope and healing.
Mr Muduviri is also the founder of Muduvuri Rehabilitation and Empowerment Foundation (MREF), a charity foundation that works and focuses on helping and empowering the disabled members of the society.
