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Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
THE Bulawayo Hindu community yesterday held a special prayer session for rains at the Hindu Community and Cultural Centre. Their nine prayer groups in the city came together for the prayer session held at the centre in Killarney Suburb. Hindu Priest Mahesh Vaja led the prayer session. A member of the Hindu society, Jeetan Parmar, said each year they choose a topical issue to pray for and this year they decided to hold rain prayers.

“We’ve nine prayer groups in our culture which hold different prayers on their set days but one Sunday every year, we all come together and pray for a specific burning issue and this year we considered the rains as the number one priority,” said Parmer.

“Of course it’s now raining but we felt the need to give ourselves time to continue asking for more and thanking our God for what he has given us. We pray, sing and give offering, throwing away the old stuff which we burn as offering.”

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has been leading the country in praying for the rains following a prolonged dry spell that started in Mid-December. For the past week, it has rained in many parts of the country.

VP Mphoko said President Mugabe had urged Zimbabweans to pray for rains after realising that most parts of the country had not received meaningful rains since the beginning of the rainy season.

“When you go out to the rural areas, it’s so dry with no meaningful agricultural activity. This can plunge the country into severe drought. So we briefed President Mugabe who’s on leave about the situation. He said we should call on the people of Zimbabwe to pray for rains,” he said.

The VP said the country should remain united even in the face of challenges and prayer was essential as God is the one who sustains lives.