SMALL and Medium Enterprises Development minister Sithembiso Nyoni has encouraged churches to venture into small-scale businesses.

Speaking at the ordination ceremony of 66 bishops from different denominations under the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) at the Large City on Saturday, Nyoni said the church leaders should stand firm and uplift the lives of the ordinary people that made them bishops.

She urged them to form small groups and work together to start prosperous new small businesses.

“As Christians, we should work together, form small groups, do savings and make proposals on the projects you want to work on,” said Nyoni.

Nyoni said her ministry runs the Small Enterprises Development Co-operation (Sedco) that assists small businesses to get bank loans as start-ups. She said banks had the capital to assist those with small businesses with loans ranging from $2 000 to
$200 000.

“As a Parliament, we do not have capital to give businesses, but there is Sedco and the banks,” said Nyoni.

“The ministry will make a follow-up on the prepositions you have made and if the banks do not grant loans, report back to me and we will engage them.”

She blamed corruption on the hesitancy by Christians to run for high office or engage in business.

“There is corruption because the Christians do not have high positions in businesses, Parliament and government. Christians are needed. Go and make projects; ZimAsset should be forwarded to the churches.”

ACCZ president Archbishop Johannes Ndanga encouraged politicians to seek spiritual guidance in the day-to-day running of the country.

Ndanga said biblically, the political leadership was given guidance by the priesthood and there was need for politicians of today to engage in such practices.