FROM PROVINCIA de TETE—Speaking from Tete Province in the Great Republic of Mozambique, J5 — Johane the 5th of Africa International Church leader Archbishop Commander Dr Andby Makururu has called on the Church in Africa to rise as a custodian of peace, liberation values and cross-border solidarity between former liberation movements.

“Each and every year has its own problems and its own plans. I am in Tete strengthening relations between the Church and the Ruling Parties ZANU PF and Frelimo,” said Dr Makururu. “The bond of friendship sealed during the Liberation War should never be altered or changed.”

Dr Makururu said Church and community leadership in Tete Province were convened to reinforce diplomatic and spiritual ties rooted in the shared Liberation history of the two Nations. “It is the duty of us the Church to ensure that solidarity exists,” he said, “and that we maintain the spirit of Umvukela for past, present and future generations so that the legacy of the Liberation Struggle is jealously guarded and defended.”

He said prayers were offered for ZANU PF and Frelimo, as well as their respective First Secretaries. “We gathered to pray for our Ruling Parties and their leadership, to continue invoking the grace of God for Nation-building and peace-building initiatives,” he said.

Calling for a stronger continental role, Dr Makururu said the African Church must refocus its mandate. “The Church in Africa must rise and focus on development,” he said. “We must not be the initiators of violence but peacemakers. The Church has a God-given mandate to uphold and maintain the bond of peace in Africa.”

On sanctions imposed on the Great Republic of Zimbabwe under ZIDERA, Dr Makururu said unity of purpose was critical. “If as the Church we unite and speak with one voice, and clearly justify why these sanctions ought to be removed, they will certainly be removed,” he said.

He warned against internal divisions within religious institutions. “The word given to the Church is that we must not engage in infighting,” he said. “We must fight violence and disobedience, and the Church must remain a safe haven for a world facing many challenges.” He posed a pointed question: “If the Church is violent, how can we instil peace into a violent world?”

Dr Makururu expressed concern over rising religious extremism, citing parts of the Republic of Mozambique and Nigeria. “We are seeing Churches rising against other Churches in murderous violence,” he said, describing the trend as dangerous for Africa’s future.

Turning to the Great Republic of Zimbabwe, he said, “I see people taking each other to prisons and worldly courts. Yet the Church must not take each other to these courts. If the Church remains on its God-given mandate, no one will hurt another.”

He said dialogue must remain the primary tool for resolving disputes. “The Church must lead by dialogue and not rely on guns and bullets to resolve civil disputes,” Dr Makururu said. “Once we abandon dialogue and rely on physical weapons, we open the door for terrorism to enter our societies.”

Dr Makururu warned that abandoning spiritual conflict-resolution tools would have far-reaching consequences. “If the Church negates its God-given weapon of resolving conflict through dialogue, enemies will come through the Church,” he said, recalling how the Church was exploited in the 1880s and was used as an unsuspecting tool for the colonisation of our Great Region.

Referencing violence in Nigeria and the conflict in Gaza, he said, “The answer for lasting peace lies with the Church. But if the Church is fighting itself, who will pray for peace?” He added that in the last days, “the love of money is increasing,” weakening moral authority.

Concluding, Dr Makururu said he believed divine intervention was near. “What I am seeing as a servant of God is that God is soon going to intervene,” he said. “Much of the world’s natural endowments are in our Great Continent of Africa, and Africa has a role to play in shaping the future of global peace.”

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