ZCC Global Spokesperson, Moatshe Ngoepe.
The long-awaited reopening of the Zion Cristian Church (ZCC) headquarters at Zion City Moria is finally taking place since the church’s closure four years ago following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The mass church, which is identified by the star insignia, had suspended the annual Easter pilgrimage at Moria, east of Polokwane due to strict Covid protocols.
After a four-year hiatus, Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane will ascend to the pulpit and address millions of congregants during the Consecration of the New Year from August 30 until September 1.
In a media statement, the church confirmed that it will gradually resume its regular conferences after the naval pandemic that almost brought the entire world to a standstill.
The announcement was also communicated across church branches all over southern Africa and congregants are expected to trickle en masse to Moria next weekend.
The mass reopening comes barely four months after the tragic accident that claimed 45 lives of ZCC members of the St. Engenas bloc after their bus veered off the R518 road near Mokopane and caught fire.
The deceased were traveling from neighbouring Botswana to attend the ZCC’s 100th anniversary and the annual Ester service.
The pilgrimage was attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa and EFF leader, Julius Malema as they sought divine intervention ahead of the fiercely-contested 2024 National Elections.
The visits to Moria will be done under strict procedural guidelines during the upcoming conferences.
According the ZCC global spokesperson, Moatshe Ngoepe, internal communications within the church community regarding the standing protocols and processes have been made and will continue during the upcoming pilgrimage.
For the legion of devoted congregants who worship at the altar of Moria, the reopening of the city gates brings respite to their spiritual lives.
Ngoepe said “While we are expecting dozens of congregants, vendors will not be allowed to operate along the R71 main road between Polokwane and Tzaneen in front of the ZCC headquarters in Moria starting from Matshelapata in Mentz to Mphogadiba. The church is a law-abiding entity that works closely with law enforcement agencies to deal with all safety-related matter. This is done for safety reasons, including the safety of pedestrians. The church is not in any way against Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises but this is mainly for safety measures. The church humbly requests full cooperation from every members of the community during the duration of this conference.”
This annual event, which attracts millions church members from across the Southern African Development Community, usually presents business opportunities for small business operators.
Even those who are not ZCC members usually come in droves to line up next to the headquarters to sell anything from food, soft beverages and church paraphilia.
During to the recently-announce regulations, the hordes of vendors who line themselves like the walls of Jericho will be conspicuous by their absence.
One of the small business operators, Merriam Matloga from Mankweng township, said even though she has to abide by the church protocols, the restriction of vendors has dealt them a huge economic blow.
She said “It is during these type of events when our small business thrive. When I heard of the reopening of the headquarters, I was elated but soon after hearing that we cannot trade outside the church city, I was dejected. I have been selling food there for many years and managed to rake in cash during the Easter and September pilgrimages. While I am forced to abide by these guidelines, I don’t see any reason why we can’t trade because the pandemic has lessened and the regulations have eased by health authorities.”
The eagerly-awaited trek to Moria will see thousands of vehicles, taxis and buses peaking up traffic volumes to various roads in the province.
Despite the freak accident that killed the Botswana congregants, the September pilgrim is an event believed to open spiritual paths.
The ZCC Moria City is expected to be brimming with women glad in their long green skirts, hair covered and men in their khakhi suits and manyanyatha.
Like a barracks for an army of desert sheriffs, these men will revel in their mokhukhu carnival.
The pilgrimage presents impeccable opportunity to gulp gallons of sacrosanct tea [coffee] and holy water for spiritual cleansing and divine strengthening.
Legend has it that the church was established in 1910 by Lekganyane, who secured the holy site of Moria on the instruction of God.