Vigil Prayer rally 21 April 2007


“Each time a man or a woman stands up for justice, the heavens sing and the world rejoices.” This was the theme of our special Prayer Vigil for Zimbabwe. We were happy to be addressed by two pastors from Zimbabwe, Useni Sibanda and Promise Manceda, of the Zimbabwean Christian Alliance (ZCA). The ZCA spearheads the Save Zimbabwe Campaign, the umbrella organisation from which the MDC and civic bodies in Zimbabwe are working for change.
On a beautiful sunny day they were welcomed with this prayer “We pray for the women of WOZA, who are not afraid to stand together peacefully for change. We pray for the Archbishop of Bulawayo, Pius Ncube, who is selflessly devoting his life to his flock who are living in tough times through lack of clean water, lack of food, lack of homes, lack of jobs and lack of hope. We pray for all the other organisations that are now standing together seeking a peaceful solution, which will end the misery and desecration of lives. Lord, these are our brothers and sisters. Father we pray for Robert Mugabe, that he will seek help from you and act on your guidance.”

Useni Sibanda, who is co-ordinator of the ZCA, praised the Vigil for its consistency and urged Zimbabweans throughout the UK to continue to pray for their homeland. He said pastors had a biblical mandate to work in a peaceful and non-violent way to bring about liberty and social justice. It was, he said, time for Zimbabweans to say unity, unity, unity. His colleague, Pastor Promise Manceda, said pastors are enjoined by God to preach freedom to the captives. The people of Zimbabwe were being kept captive.

Many passers-by stopped to join in, perhaps drawn by the saxophones, violin and guitar which augmented our usual drums, or by the singing of Viomak, or the passionate dancing, singing and prayer.

We were all inspired by the Reverend Ray Pountney of the West Hill Baptist Church in London. He used to be a pastor in Bulawayo working with Ray Motsi of the Baptist Church. Among other speakers were Pastors Idy Samuels (Nigeria), Rose Deans (Ghana) and Victor Kambasha (Zimbabwe). There were many other pastors there including our good supporter, the Reverend Dr Martine Stemerick, who managed to find time in her very busy schedule to join us.

We were also pleased to have with us the Zimbabwe Watchmen, a Christian group from Coventry. They spent three hours in worship outside the Embassy before the Prayer Vigil began and many of them stayed till the end. Thanks to John Yohane of the Zimbabwe Watchmen, who is also a Vigil supporter, for organizing the event, and to other Vigil supporters, Evelyn, Jeff, Dumi and PJ, who organised the Prayer Vigil.

The day ended with a reading of verses of Ezekiel 37. “Then he said to me; “Now give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: O my people I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people you will know that I am the Lord.”

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FOR THE RECORD: 127 signed the register.