By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
Johannes Ndanga, the president of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) and long time supporter of President Robert Mugabe has thrown his weight behind the introduction of bond notes.
Government is set to introduce the bond notes in October saying it will boost exports to generate much needed foreign currency amidst a crippling cash shortage.
This has faced resistance from industry and citizens who suspect it could be a backdoor strategy to bring back the disused local currency that was abandoned in early 2009 and replaced with a basket of foreign currencies.
Addressing congregants in Bulawayo in Sunday, Ndanga rapped leading Pentecostal church leaders like Emmanuel Makandiwa and Walter Magaya for reportedly resisting the bond notes, accusing them of preferring foreign currency that they used to pay their foreign spiritual fathers.
Magaya initially criticised the bond notes, but after a meeting with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, John Mangudya, he had change of heart.
“Whatever money they (Pentecostal leaders) make in Zimbabwe, a percentage is sent to their spiritual fathers in Ghana and Nigeria because they have to pay homage so as to maintain the powers they have. That’s why they are refusing bond notes.
“The man (Makandiwa) that refused the bond notes clearly stated that he doesn’t trust the Reserve Bank Governor (Dr John Mangudya) even if what he has planned makes sense,” Ndanga said.
Ndanga claimed that the “Holy Spirit” had revealed to his church last year that Zimbabwe would produce a local currency that would only be used locally.
“I said it myself, therefore the bond notes are good…So why are you saying the bond notes cannot be sustained? Why don’t we have our own currency that works in Zimbabwe while things are being fixed? On behalf of VaPostori, we want those bond notes,” said Ndanga.
He also castigated Evan Mawarire, the preacher who helped mobilise civil protesters in July using the #ThisFlag campaign, as a fake cleric.
“There are pastors who are not appointed or installed into power, they ordain themselves and just call themselves bishops. These are the likes of Pastor Evan Mawarire who tie the flag of people they are insulting around their necks. You do not tie a flag of people you are insulting around your neck, you tie your own flag,” he said. Nehanda Radio
