Zimbabwe needs spiritual healing now, according to Reverend Dr Gwinyai Muzorewa, the leader of the United African National Council (UANC), who also asserts that if the country has not followed the required spiritual rituals, there cannot be true peace or unity.
The reverend pointed out that Zimbabwe’s victory over colonialism was also based on spiritual support, which the country can still rely on to overcome the numerous issues it faces now.
“Our nation needs spiritual healing country-wide. Therefore, we need to address some spiritual issues that have been swept under the rug. There is an urgent need for spiritual healing at the national level,” said the UANC leader during a press conference in Bulawayo on Thursday.
“The Masvikiro (spirits) who led and guided us during the liberation struggle are waiting for us to come back and give an account of the victory.”
According to the UANC leader, it would be efficacious for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to form a special ministry that focuses on “spiritual healing.”
“It has been said: ‘a healthy nation is a happy nation,’” he added.
Rev. Muzorewa said the spiritual healing he was alluding to would have to be presided over by respective spirits who live in respective districts and communities. “Chiefs must know and identify them,” he said, describing this as the role of chiefs to facilitate.
“First, we have to get permission from the Head of State to create this operation, then work with chiefs, asking them to identify the spirits in their districts and areas. Those spirits will tell us, those involved in the exercise of spiritual healing, what needs to be done. For instance, they might say we need to slaughter 10 black cows. We can actually do rituals; spiritual healings often involve rituals.”
The opposition leader emphasized that such exercises were not evil.
“Let’s move away from that mentality. The nation is invited to participate in this nation-saving exercise because the nation has not yet achieved the desirable level of peace and unity. Also, the regional masvikiro have constantly reminded political leaders and the government to perform rituals of thanksgiving (maBira).”
Rev. Muzorewa said in addition to putting up statues, special rituals have yet to be performed.
“Our country is spiritual, and so we must observe certain spiritual requirements. We ask our chiefs to give guidance to the government when it comes to matters of culture,” he said.
In the same breath, the UANC leader said churches, traditionalists, and other religious bodies should give spiritual leadership to the government when it comes to morality and spirituality.
“This is the heart of national unity. I dare say, the constitution is not enough. The UANC will ask the nation to seriously consider and even act on the matter of the spiritual national healing agenda,” he said.
Rev. Muzorewa cited how during President Mnangagwa’s inauguration in 2017, he appealed to everyone to “let bygones be bygones” referring to the violence Zanu PF had inflicted on sections of society. However, that sentiment did not minimize the pain and suffering in the country.
“With all due respect, giving birth certificates to all the Gukurahundi survivors will never replace a ‘mother, uncle, gogo, son, father, or child.’ We need to rectify this anomaly because Zimbabwe cannot continue to live in a ‘moment of madness,’ as former (late) President Robert Mugabe called it,” he said.
According to the UANC leader, the Church must support any acts of giving thanks to God for the victory over colonial powers.
“The important thing to remember is that the churches have a problem with their mentality. They think anything cultural is not Christian. I taught in theological schools for a long time, and they have that mentality. I have tried to decolonize them by saying just because it’s African doesn’t mean it’s bad,” he said.
Another UANC member, the secretary general of the party’s Bulawayo Province, Ntombikayise Nyathi, supported this move, claiming, “spiritual healing is really needed in this country.”
“Since you are putting a motion ahead, and if you take this step with our Zanu government, approach them in the right manner and work with the right department, like the chiefs, I’m sure we will definitely have rain,” Nyathi said.
“Spiritual healing is lacking because this is a spiritual country, and we are looking forward to this. I’m hands-on, saying go forward and approach the government to work together.”
In response, the UANC leader said: “I know very well that the president is doing everything to make sure that we take account of spiritual matters. Typically, they don’t know where to begin or how to do it. That’s where we have to consult experts who know how to deal with spirits.”
