“It is high time the church of the Living God in Zimbabwe taught women economics and financial matters if the nation is to achieve its goal of totally empowering the group that was previously disadvantaged by patriarchy,” a senior government official said.

Addressing thousands of women during Maximized Lifestyle International Conference (MLI) at Harvest House International (HHI) church in Bulawayo recently, Dr Olivia Muchena, Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister, said the church as an influential institution in society should entrench business values into its members, in particular, women.

MLI is a grouping of HHI ladies that refuse to be limited in their quest to becoming exactly what the Most High created them to be. The group is equivalent to Word of Life International Church’s Woman Unlimited.

Dr Muchena said it was disheartening to note that Zimbabwe’s high literacy rate did not translate into financial literacy adding that a significant number of women in the country are still afraid of venturing into business. This is something she said that has to be corrected forthwith. “Most women, when they watch news, don’t watch business news. We want you to be maximised economically by knowing and understanding economics as well,” said Minister Muchena.

She added: “The [Holy] Spirit has to give us wisdom and understanding. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to teach us all things.” Dr Muchena, who, prior to her address, toured a number of women projects supported by her ministry in Pumula, said it is her prayer and desire that all churches in Zimbabwe teach their female members business and financial matters.

She later presented certificates to women who graduated in different courses, also a brainchild of her ministry. Among the graduates, was the president and founder Of MLI, Apostle Sarah Nyathi.

The MLI conference ran concurrently with the Total Men’s convention from March 30 to April 1.