The United African Apostolic Church (UAAC) in Thohoyandou held its annual conference at Dzindi Primary School's sports grounds from 15 to 16 July. Twenty-four of the church's branches from around Thohoyandou, and some from the Vuwani region, flocked to Thohoyandou to attend the conference.
Among the guests were Thovhele Thivhulawi Makumbane, Thulamela mayor Athingozwidivha Sarah Rambuda, Vhembe District's acting executive mayor, and many church leaders.
The Thohoyandou district's secretary and conference spokesperson, Dr Pandelani George Sikhwari, said that for each district to hold a conference annually was customary. "We are excited that our guests from the government and Thovhele Makumbane put everything aside to spend the day with us. We heartily thank the leadership of councillor Esther Makhomu and the organising committee for such a wonderful event," he said.
Addressing the gathering, UAAC leader Archbishop Itani Miriri called on politicians to be honest with communities and stick to their promises or risk losing votes. "It is election time again, and we see politicians everywhere who make all sorts of promises, but those promises are not kept. Our communities are crying for services that the government is failing to provide. Look around; roads are full of potholes, and water problems are everywhere. To the politicians we say, please render the needed services to communities or know that people will take their votes somewhere else. Keep your promises and better the lives of all our people," he said.
Thovhele Makumbane urged the church to continue praying and to ask God to intervene in the rampant crime and other community ills. "We can do whatever is in our powers to fight crime and other ills, and our efforts will not bear fruit. This is where we need God's intervention. Please also pray for us as traditional leaders for peace in our communities," he said.