RELIGIOUS and traditional leaders have united in calling for a spiritual cleansing ceremony along the Harare-Chitungwiza highway, as concerns mount over a surge in fatal accidents along the route.
The calls follow a tragic accident last week at Manyame Bridge, which claimed 17 lives, sparking widespread mourning and prompting urgent calls for divine intervention.
Early Tuesday morning, congregants from various Christian denominations converged at the site for an interdenominational prayer session.
Worshippers knelt, sang hymns, and offered prayers aimed at cleansing the road and interceding for an end to what they described as a “spirit of death” haunting the highway.
“It is the devil’s work to steal, kill, and destroy, so the purpose of prayer is to cleanse the road to stop the spirit of death, not only on this road but all roads in Zimbabwe,” a traditional leader said.
“A lot of blood is spilling along Seke Road. As community members, we are living in constant fear, so all religious sects must unite and seek the face of God,” a community member said.
“We believe there is power in prayer. We are humbly asking the Almighty God to intervene on this highway,” a religious person said.
“At some point, Jesus calmed the storm. We believe, as children of God, if we unite, we have the power to stop the deaths,” a Christian said.
Religious leaders say the frequency and severity of accidents on the road point to the need for more than just physical infrastructure upgrades.
“We cannot ignore the spiritual implications. We are here to pray, but also to awaken the nation to the power of faith in combating unseen forces behind these calamities,” Christian Faith Church, Bishop Jonathan Masamba said.
Traditional leaders have echoed similar sentiments, with Chief Seke revealing that a traditional cleansing ceremony is being planned.
“We are grieving as the Seke community. As traditional leaders, we have rituals that we perform to curb the spilling of blood on the roads. A cleansing ceremony is on the cards and will be advised in due course after consulting elders,” he said.
“The souls of those who perished in the recent accident are still lingering at the scene. This calls for a traditional ceremony to appease and help them rest. Otherwise, more accidents may follow. We urge all spirit mediums to join hands in performing this urgent ritual,” National Chairperson Masvikiro Enyika4ED, Sekuru Morrison Mafuta said.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck again near the same highway this morning.
A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, travelling from Chitungwiza to Harare, reportedly burst a front tyre and veered off the road near Chinhamo Bridge, just kilometres from the site of last week’s fatal crash.
“The Sprinter was in the inner lane when the front tyre on the driver’s side burst. The vehicle flew nearly a metre before landing in the bush,” an Eyewitness said.
Several passengers were seriously injured and have since been hospitalised.
As Zimbabwe continues to grapple with rising road carnage, the spotlight now turns to spiritual and cultural interventions as communities search for answers and solutions beyond the conventional. ZBC
