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spinning ventures for their personal enrichment.
Addressing a gathering at a wedding ceremony for Gu-shungo Dairy Farm manager Mr Stanley Nhari’s daughter in Harare yesterday, President Mugabe bemoaned the proliferation of some dubious pastors masquerading as men of God while their core business was to make money behind the façade of the Bible.
Cynthia Nhari and Charles Mupakuwana (a lawyer and an engineer respectively), who are based in South Africa tied the knot at FBC Sports Club in the city yesterday.
The ceremony was hosted by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
President Mugabe warned such unscrupulous individuals saying the practice was against the word of God.
“Haikona kuti washaya mari mumba woti ndakarotswa ndava mufundisi wototanga church. Kana woshandisa Bhaibheri kuti uwane mari watorasika kubva kune zvinodiwa naMwari.
“Kana wava pastor woita hupastor hwokuteresa vanhu mari? Unogonaka kungoshandira vanhu kunochengetwa vanotambura nezvirema,” said President Mugabe.
He said the nation was now confused on which church is really the church of God.
“The Bible warns us of false prophets who come as if they are from God while they are actually anti-Christ. This really confuses the nation,” he said.
President Mugabe also attacked homosexuality, adding that there was no going back on the issue. He said Zimbabwe would continue to recognise marriages involving people of opposite sex only.
“The story of love began a long time ago. Marriages are good and the idea should not be spoiled by evil affairs involving men and men.
“No to homosexuality and that remains our slogan. We totally agree with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church on that. Pamberi nemuchato asi ngauve muchato wevarume nevakadzi chete,” he said.
The President, who is also the Head of State and Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defe-nce Forces urged married couples to be faithful to preserve their marriages. Women, he said, should submit themselves to their husbands regardless of their level of education and professional qualifications.
President Mugabe advised the newly-wed couple to take some time to understand each other to avoid break-ups and divorce.
“You should take some time studying each other, observing each other’s interests, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses and nature of each other’s job after marriage. That is a big transitional period.
“Be faithful. Men, I am one of you, meso meso tinawo imiwe and our wives do not trust us,” he said to applause.
“Even pandiri pano, I am now 87 and I am about to turn 88 as you can see . . . Asi hapana kana zvekuti mudzimai anoti wakura saka haachafungidzira. For marriages of this nature our law allows one man to marry one woman and we should respect that,” he said.
President Mugabe left the gathering in stitches as he narrated how he was honoured with a “holy” staff that has the power to attract any woman by one of the apostolic churches.
“Ndakamboendawo kumapostori vanobvumidza kuroora madzimai akawanda ndikapiwa zitsvimbo. Zitsvimbo iri rinoti ndikanongedza naro musikana seizvi anotondida chete. Saka ndakaudza amai kuti ndozvarinoita izvozvo zvikanzi navo chiunzai ndikuchengeterei saka ndakache-ngeterwa,” he said.
The President hailed the SDA Church for its principles that groomed his employee Mr Nhari into an honest, trustworthy and principled man.
Speaking at the same occasion SDA Church vice president for Southern Indian Ocean Division Pastor Paminus Machamire hailed the President for the anti-homosexuality stance saying the church was in support of the idea.
“President Mugabe preaches the same gospel we preach. A marriage should only be possible between a man and a woman. It shows that our President once passed through our Solusi University,” said Pastor Machamire.