Pr Kayanja meets President Mnangagwa ahead of Benny Hinn’s crusade in Harare

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Uganda's Pastor Robert Kayanja has met with Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare ahead of Pastor Benny Hinn's gospel convention in the Zimbabwean capital.

Mnangagwa has pledged full support to the spiritual gathering that is scheduled for October 10-12 this year.

American televangelist Benny Hinn, 72, convened a mega miracle healing crusade at Miracle Centre Cathedral in Kampala last month (June).

Pastor Benny Hinn's healing crusade in Kampala in June this year attracted a diverse local and international audience. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

He tasked Kayanja — founder of the Robert Kayanja Ministries and senior pastor at Miracle Centre Cathedral — with taking charge of all gospel conventions he (Hinn) will grace in Africa and beyond.

Fast-forward, Kayanja met with Mnangagwa in Harare, confirmed in a statement issued by the Zimbabwean State House.

Kayanja led a delegation featuring Dr Marie Doorn, missions' director of events for Pastor Benny Hinn Ministries and Apostle Tavonga Vutabwashe, host of the upcoming Pastor Benny Hinn healing conference in Zimbabwe.

Other members of the delegation included Vutabwashe's wife, Pastor Chipo, and Pastor Petronella Kagonye-Midzi, head of international delegates hosting.

Pastor Kayanja said he was delighted to meet Mnangangwa again. (Credit: X/@RobertKayanja)

'Spiritual renewal'

Present at the meeting was Mnangagwa's information minister, Tatenda Mavetera.

The teams discussed the preparations for the gospel convention and its potential impact on the spiritual and social-economic transformation in Zimbabwe.

"I believe this conference will be a significant moment of spiritual renewal and empowerment for the people of Zimbabwe. I pledge the government's support for this event and encourage all stakeholders to work together to ensure its success,” Mnangagwa, quoted by local media, said.

The Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) freedom fighter emphasised the significance of partnership between his government and faith-based establishments in promoting national development.

"We recognise the critical role that faith-based organisations play in promoting spiritual growth, social cohesion, and national development. We look forward to working with Pastor Benny Hinn Ministries and other faith-based organisations to support the development of our nation and continent,” he added.

'Blessed continent'

On his part, Kayanja hailed the meeting with the Zimbabwean leader as a critical milestone towards governments in Africa growing along with the Church for not only spiritual empowerment, but also the well-being of the people.

An estimated one million people — including delegations from over 36 countries across different continents — attended Hinn's healing crusade in Kampala.

Kayanja is optimistic that the Harare edition will also attract a similarly sizeable, diverse attendance.

The Ugandan pastor said the solutions to Africa's social, political and economic problems include faith, diplomacy and agriculture if total development is to be achieved.

"Africa is a blessed continent and has the potential to be self-sustainable and become the food basket of the world."

Kayanja expressed his gratitude for meeting Mnangangwa, who is a recipient of Uganda’s highest civilian award: Most Excellent Order of Pearl of Africa, The Grandmaster.

He received the award from President Yoweri Museveni during the 2019 Independence Day (October 9) celebrations, becoming the first foreign leader to be bestowed the award.

Kayanja recalled his previous meeting with the Zimbabwean president.

“I had met him (Mnangagwa) seven years ago, and what we prayed for, God is manifesting it through his great leadership. The new airport, roads, unity, peace, freedom of worship, stopped hunger and starvation, plus industries. It’s a new Zimbabwe. I thanked him and prayed for him for more.

“We talked about faith, agriculture and diplomacy. A new formular in solving Africa's problems," said Kayanja.

“The President accepted to participate in Pastor Benny Hinn’s crusade after seeing what Uganda did. He wished us success and a warm greeting to the people of Uganda with whom ‘we’ share cordial relations. He promised that next time he is in Uganda, he will visit the Miracle Centre Cathedral.

"We are honoured to have the President's blessing and support for this conference. We believe it will be a powerful moment of spiritual awakening and healing for the people of Zimbabwe," he added.

Meanwhile, Hinn is scheduled to return to Uganda next July for the Holy Spirit Conference.

According to Kayanja, there is already a plan for Hinn to hold a major gospel convention in DR Congo's capital, Kinshasa, with the proposal having been received with President Felix Tshisekedi’s full support.