Zimbabwe's Territorial Congress

November 6, 2009

Zimbabwe's Territorial Congress

General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton Lead Zimbabwe Congress

by Captain Joseph Nyamuzhiwa International News News

Hundreds of Salvationists thronged Harare International Airport, Zimbabwe, to welcome General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton. Interviewed by a journalist at the airport, the General said the purpose of the visit was to encourage Salvationists and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The General paid a pastoral visit to the acting President of Zimbabwe, the Honourable Vice President Joice Mujuru, a Salvationist, at her Munhumutapa office. The acting President commended the role being played by The Salvation Army in Zimbabwe in the field of education, health and community development. She said that the coming of the General had cemented the relationship between the peoples of Zimbabwe and The Salvation Army.

At The Salvation Army's Howard Hospital the international leaders toured the under-construction new building as well as the 'old' Howard Hospital, which is still in use. The General prayed with patients in female and male wards.

At the neighbouring Howard High School the General challenged students to develop the mind, soul and body. He reminded and encouraged them to be the guardians of their spiritual life and to put God first.

The international leaders received a warm welcome from students, teachers and parents of Mazowe High School, which is celebrating 50 years of academic excellence. Thirty years ago the General was vice principal of the school and Commissioner Clifton taught English there. The General urged students to pursue studies developing the total person and going deeper into the things of God.

The Governor and Resident Minister of Mashonaland Central Province, Advocate Martin Dinha, praised The Salvation Army for its sound Christian ethos. He then donated 100 bags of seed maize and five tons of fertiliser for the school farm. Deputy Minister of Education, Sport and Culture Mr Lazarus Dokora read a speech on behalf of the acting President of Zimbabwe acknowledging the role Mazowe High School is playing in producing good academic results and also mentioning its renowned brass band. Also in attendance were The Salvation Army's Territorial Education Secretary, Major Henry Chitanda, and headmasters and teachers from Howard and Bradley High Schools and surrounding schools in the Mazowe area and from Harare.

On Friday morning the General led two sessions of officers councils at the training college. Much spiritual food and encouragement were received.

At the territorial congress welcome meeting in the evening, held at Glamis Stadium, the General spoke about the significance of the Salvation Army mercy seat. He reminded the Salvationists gathered that the mercy seat was created not by man but by God as a place to meet his people.

More than 6,500 Salvationists took part in a march of witness through the streets of Harare on Saturday morning, bringing the city to a halt for an hour. The Mayor of Harare, Muchadeyi Masunda, also attended.

During the soldiers rally Commissioner Clifton spoke about sex-trade trafficking, challenging officers and soldiers to fight against this evil that has touched many countries, affecting vulnerable young girls and boys. She appealed to all Salvationist to raise awareness and find ways of fighting against trafficking and to pray for its victims.

Mayor Masunda of Harare attended the praise meeting and commended The Salvation Army for the role it has played in the field of health, schools and community development since it arrived in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) in 1891. He spoke about how Salvation Army hospitals have helped in times when other hospitals stopped working.

In the same meeting Commissioner Rosemary Makina, The Salvation Army's Zonal Secretary for Women's Ministries (International Headquarters), encouraged Zimbabwean Salvationists to unite in difficult situations to defeat the devil. International Secretary for Africa Commissioner Amos Makina presented the Bible message, declaring that true security in life is found in Jesus Christ and that there is no other security in this world better than Christ.

Throughout the congress music was provided by the territorial songsters, territorial youth singers, territorial band, regional hosho dzedu group, senior, youth and junior soldier timbrelists and divisional brigades, showcasing the rich talents found around the territory. Well-known gospel musician Mechanic Manyeruke, a Salvationist, motivated the congregation with his songs.

The Bible study presented by Lieut-Colonel Langton Kazimpingani on spiritual warfare challenged and informed Salvationists. The study encouraged spiritual fighters to be holy and faithful to God to win the battle.

In the Sunday holiness meeting the congregation heard the General challenge Salvationists to do things wholeheartedly for Jesus Christ and assured them that Jesus will be there to defend them when people want to go against them for doing what is right for God.

In all the meetings the grass at Glamis Stadium was turned into a Salvation Army power station. Many people lined the mercy seat, seeking restoration, salvation, healing, forgiveness of sins, spiritual empowerment and victorious life. Thirty-seven young men and women accepted the call to officership.

The acting President of Zimbabwe hosted a private farewell dinner for the international leaders at her family home. The dinner was attended by Salvation Army cabinet members and Government officials who are products of Salvation Army schools and Salvationists.

As Zimbabwean Salvationists bade farewell to the General at the airport he told them: 'We go away blessed, enriched and much better in our souls.'

More than 16,000 Salvationists attended the territorial congress. They returned to their homes more sure of why The Salvation Army was raised by God. The congress, which was featured on national television and radio, demonstrated to the nation that The Salvation Army is a mighty Army of God in Zimbabwe.

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Comment

On Monday, December 21, 2009, John McAlister said:

This post has been closed to further comments.

Please note that comments listed above reflect those of the commentators, and not those of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Editor.

On Sunday, December 20, 2009, Anonymous said:

My friend, there are some facts you are sorely missing out on concerning The Salvation Army in Zimbabwe and its connection with the Mugabe government. This dubious connection is only at the top and has virtually nothing to do with the multitudes of rank-and-file Salvationists that I'm proud to consider my brothers and sisters. The former VP of Zimbabwe was/is a salvationist (a much celebrated fact); however, this leader's nom de guerre (translated in English) is 'spill-blood'. Sadly, I am not making this up.

My anonymity is on purpose to respect my friends who have passed these concerns on to me - friends and loved ones very close to the Zimbabwean context. If you disagree with my social justice rhetoric (as you call it, rather dismissively), that's your perogative, but I myself am not far removed from the African context, so please don't assume I'm spouting off as if I don't know what I'm talking about.

My point in posting these remarks is to make Canadians aware of the fact that many churches in Zimbabwe have publicly stood against Mugabe and his policies. The Salvation Army has chosen not to. I believe however, this is not because of our apolitical stance; it is because of a lack of leadership in this area. Where's the Desmond Tutu of the Zimbabwean Salvation Army? Where's the call for justice? It was the people that solved the problems of South Africa (as you correctly say) but they sought justice by bringing the western leaders of The Salvation Army before a Truth and Reconciliation Committee. The westerns leaders, essentially, took it 'on the chin' for their failure to speak out against Apartheid. I don't want the same mistake to happen again. I will be sending a SIGNED letter to the General, asking why he chose to meet with Mugabe's representatives, and I hope that others will consider doing it to. The General is a man of God and I support him whole-heartedly, but I think in this case, he was ill-advised. Thank you for the dialogue. I'd rather take your criticisms than let this issue go silent.

On Saturday, December 19, 2009, Brian Adams said:

Realizing that I'm coming late to this discussion I'd like to bring up a couple of pretty significant points that I think Anonymous (catchy name that, I must try to remember it) misses altogether.

First of all it must be borne in mind that the Salvation Army is, not by oversight or neglect but by choice and as a deliberate matter of policy, an apolitical organization. The Salvation Army neither endorses nor condemns any political movement or party nor any political leaders. As I understand it this stance has arisen in part in recognition of the fact that as members of an international movement that is part of the Body of Christ, Salvationists live, work, and witness under a variety of governments and political leaderships. Salvationists have lived (and suffered) under Nazi governments, communist governments, and every other form of despotism that the right, centre, or left has to offer. What appears to be our "prophetic call to to social justice" from the comfort of a liberal western democracy may look like something completely different to our brothers and sisters who have to live in that setting, with altogether different (and perhaps umintended and unforeseen) consequences.

The second point is even more important: the problems of Zimbabwe are precisely that, the problems of Zimbabwe. They will not be resolved by Canadians, not even Christian Canadians spouting the rhetoric of social justice, but only as God raises up his people within Zimbabwe to deal with their own issues. Anonymous presumes to lecture Zim Salvo and Grace, comrades who know the country from within, as to what is right and wrong with their government and leadership (something which I suspect they both realize better than Anonymous or me), thereby substituting a subtle new kind of spiritual imperialism ("We know what's best for you, Zimbabwe!") for the older discredited forms. Anonymous refers to the example of South Africa, but the example in fact makes my point for me: The problems of South Africa have been and are being addressed, courageously and head on, by the people of South Africa, and the Salvation Army stands in solidarity with them as they do so. In the same way, the Salvation Army stands in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe as they pass through their time of trial.

In closing, and for the record, had I been in General Clifton's shoes, I too would have met with Robert Mugabe. I would have done so in recognition of the fact that this man, as head of state of my host country, for better or worse, holds the responsibility for the temporal well being of that part of my international family that calls themselves Zimbabwean. I would have done so hoping for the opportunity of expressing my concern for his policies but my support for his people. And I would have done so recognizing, as Zim Salvo has already pointed out, that in the final analysis Robert Mugabe is only a man, and as a man he will one day have to answer for his life and actions before the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and I would be remiss in foregoing any opportunity of reminding him of his awesome responsibility before God.

On Thursday, December 17, 2009, Anonymous said:

I heard just a few days ago on our own CBC Radio News, a detailed report on Mugabe's use of rape as a weapon of war against his own people. Women who were even loosely connected with political groups opposed to Mugabe were systematically raped by his thugs. This, my friends, is what causes me to speak out. We cannot abandon our prophetic call to social justice for fear of offending.

You say quite correctly that only Jesus can judge people like Mugabe. Well, that's true, and I'm glad that's not my job. But your unspoken argument that the Army should just sit back, and help the Zimbabwean people, without speaking truth to the political powers that are causing this injustice is nothing more than quietism. Has the Army not learned from its experience in South Africa? When Mugabe passes on and a new regime takes over, which commissioner will have to stand before a truth and reconciliation committee and apologize on behalf of the Army for burying its head in the sand?

I don't begrudge the fact that the Zimbabweans had a congress - I think that's great! I'm so impressed with the number of committed salvationists who are staying in Zimbabwe despite the economic pressures that caused so many to leave. The only thing I take exception to is the General allowing himself to be used as a silent endorsement for the Mugabe government. This was no doubt arranged by someone under him, but I think the General was ill advised and did not think of the consequences. As an Army, we are non-partisan, true. But that should not serve as a "gag order" where we remain silent in the face of injustice. I respect your views and outlook, but I am in obvious disagreement.

On Thursday, December 17, 2009, Gloria said:

As a Zimbabwean living outside the country I believe that if we all decided to abandon the Zimbabwean Gorvernment due to what we believe is its evil deeds, then we will be abandoning those innocent people in the country who have to live with it day in and out. Where would the good be in that, we would be contributing to their misery in a disguised manor. Like Salvo Zim said who are we to judge, and how would we know if this would not help the President of Zimbabwe repent and understnd the word of God. We should live the jugdement to be done by God and do what we are supposed to do, and that is spreading the word of God. We are Christians and we should not be keeping grudges but learn to forgive. Jesus forgave an evildoer when He was dying on His Cross. As Christians we should be exemplary otherwise we are just as bad as.

On Monday, December 14, 2009, Zim Salvo said:

The overriding factor is to leave according to the attitude of Christ. l again will make reference to Jesus dining with Zacheous ...didnt that worry religious people of that time. Our job and the General's job is to preach the gospel to everyone...those born again and those who do not know Christ .
For me as a Zimbabwean and as a child of God l am guided by what the word says for in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. (1) The word commands us to respect those in authority "Servants, you must respect your masters and do whatever they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are tough and cruel. 1 Peter 2:18 (TLB)"
"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Romans 13:1 (NKJV)"
Its respect and not worship.

(2) Tne word commands us to love everyone "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34)"."But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28)".
Being able to love is the greatest commandment.
(3) The persecution that we have experienced in this country has taught us to be able to forgive, to be humble and to experience a just fraction of the suffering that the early church and our Lord Jesus encountered (so they suffered worse) but what was the Lord's reaction..Forgive them father for they do no know what they are doing. Rather we are called to love "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28)".

On Tuesday, December 8, 2009, Anonymous said:

Normally I'd agree with you that it's always beneficial to dialogue with world leaders (even notorious ones). But it's not a 'holier-than-thou' attitude I'm expressing. It's a fear that my beloved Army (at least in Zimbabwe) is cozying up with a corrupt and violent regime. The close connections between TSA and the Mugabe government are well documented. And my comments that the General should not have dined with an emissary from this government stems from my own knowledge of the Zimbabwean political context.

Jesus stood in opposition to the powers that dehumanized others; he stood in opposition to the powers that tried to use him to their own benefit as a means to justify their oppressive practices. Watch and read closely how Jesus always held the Pharisees and Herodians to task for their oppressive religious practices. Read and study his encounter with King Herod and Pontius Pilate - watch how they try to use him for their own political advantage and how he turns the tables on them.

With respect, adopting the attitude that we should all play nice and wait for judgement day for God to sort out the 'goodies' from the 'baddies' is to abandon our prophetic witness to the world and is actually quite contrary to the message of the gospel.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2009, Zim Salvo said:

l personally think its grossly unfair to criticise the World leaders for attending a luncheon organised by a fellow salvationist.As a salvationist she has the right to fellowship with the world leaders just like any other salvationist.We need note try to have a holier than thou attitude as Christians. Who are we to judge that other people "notorious" . Judgement day will come we all shall face our lord and maker .Our Lord Jesus dined with even the so called evil people during the time he was on earth the tax collectors and the like.All leaders though different are raised by God even controversial ones among other...Pharoah and Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel , Shadreck ,Micheck and Abedingo all had interaction with the kings of Babylon so should we criticise them also.

On Monday, November 30, 2009, Anonymous said:

The Army leaders should not be attending private luncheons hosted by the President of Zimbabwe's office. The Salvation Army in Zimbabwe (I believe) receives the patronage and favour of the Mugabe government, one of the worst human rights violaters on the African Continent.

I am personally disappointed that General Clifton would meet with the President (or acting pres, it makes no difference) of a government that has so much blood on its hands. Some might say that it's important to dialogue with global leaders (even notorious ones), which is true, but this is not what is going on here. The Mugabe government is using this as a publicity stunt. The same thing happened during the All-African Congress under General Larsson's term, where Mugabe actually addressed a crowd of Salvationists. Outrageous!

The Army leadership should be more sensitive to the implications of attending a private luncheon that is hosted by such a horrible government.