Apostle Andrew Wutawunashe, a Christian pastor with close ties to the ruling ZANU PF party, has claimed that there is no hunger in Zimbabwe and accused citizens of being “crybabies” who complain excessively and exaggerate problems.
Wutawunashe, who is the Founder and Overseer of the Family of God Church (FOG), as well as the chairman of the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches (ZIICC) and the Faith for the Nation Campaign, made these remarks at a prayer meeting attended by over 60 delegates at the Flamboyant, a Regency Group hotel, in Masvingo on Thursday.
As reported by The Mirror, Wutawunashe said that Zimbabwe has no economic refugees, and described the millions of citizens who have fled to the diaspora as “skilled expatriate workers” imparting their critical knowledge in host countries.
He also claimed that Zimbabwe was one of the most economically progressive nations in the region. Said Wutawunashe:
When people look at Zimbabwe, they are always complaining especially us Zimbabweans. We are always complaining that our country has hunger, but it’s not true.
You can ask the likes of Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi who travels to all countries in Southern Africa, he will tell you Zimbabwe is a prosperous country.
Our citizens have migrated to SADC countries and the truth is that they are not going there to seek greener pastures or to beg, but to uplift those countries with skills that we possess as Zimbabweans.
The knowledge that we are imparting to SADC is the opportunity given (sic) to the nation and President Emmerson Mnangagwa by God to pass to other SADC countries.
It is worth noting that Wutawunashe is part of a group of indigenous church leaders, bishops, and prophets who are regularly pampered with money and vehicles by the ZANU PF government. Some have reportedly received as much as $1 million in such largesse.
The clergyman’s dismissive comments about hunger and economic hardship in Zimbabwe conveniently ignored the fact that the country is facing one of the most severe droughts in living memory, caused by the El Niño weather pattern. This crisis has left about half the population in need of food aid.
In April 2024, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a national disaster due to the drought and appealed for $2 billion in international assistance to help millions of Zimbabweans facing hunger.
The prayer meeting where Wutawunashe made his remarks was attended by Ezra Chadzamira, the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, who stood in for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Frederick Shava.
The objectives of the meeting, which was sponsored by the Zimbabwe Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches (ZICC) and the Faith for the Nation Campaign (FANA), included praying for a conducive, peaceful, and harmonious atmosphere for the 44th SADC Summit to be held in Harare on August 17, as well as for wisdom and unity among SADC state leaders as they deliberate on the agenda of integrating Southern African nations.
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