By Paul Nyathi| Members of the Johane Masowe Vadzidzi VaJesu Church have vowed to back President Emmerson Mnangagwa and ZANU PF in the upcoming elections.

The twenty thousand pilgrims led by Mudzidzi Wimbo, made the vow when they met with the President in Madziva, Mashonaland Central on Wednesday.

The church described Mnangagwa as a listening President who was anointed by God to lead Zimbabwe compared to former President Robert Mugabe. The church’s anointed leader, Ishmael Magodi, said former President Robert Mugabe had never set foot at the shrine despite numerous invitations.

Most church members pledged to actively participate in Zanu-PF’s primary elections to be held on Sunday, as well as the forthcoming harmonised elections.

“It took us 37 years of pleading with the former President to grace our gathering, but the visit never materialised.

“President Mnangagwa was anointed by God to lead the country and that is the reason why he has visited this shrine twice after his installation as the President of Zimbabwe. President wekukorokoza akaenda, saka isu tese pano tichavhotera Zanu-PF nehuwandu hwedu,” said Magodi.

“We were supposed to break our Bhesinayi gathering on Sunday, but we are now breaking on Friday to allow our members to actively participate in Sunday’s primary elections,” said Magodi.

President Mnangagwa was accompanied by the ZANU PF national political commissar Engelbert Rugeje, provincial chairperson Raymond Kazembe and Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs, Advocate Martin Dinha.