When nations resort to prayer: Liberia, Zambia, S. Africa, Malawi and Morocco

AFRICA

Liberia has become the latest African nation to resort to prayer to resolve hardships, following a call by the President George Weah’s religious advisor asking the nation to pray for God’s intervention in reviving the ailing economy.

Rev. M. Emmanuel Nimely tasked Liberians to pray for two hours everyday, and take part in all-night prayer vigils to be held on every last Friday of every month.

Praying for the economy in Liberia

Nimely’s calls follow last week’s state of the nation address where president Weah said Liberia’s infrastructure and economic problems are enormous.

The calls for prayer to resolve economic problems have received mixed reactions, with critics asking Weah and his government to work hard rather than rely on spiritual deliverance, while others insist that prayer is a correct strategy fir nation building.

The Economic Freedom Fighters Chapter in Liberia urged citizens to defy the call for prayer, arguing that Weah needs to resolve the issues of corruption and bad governance that have dogged his government.

“Look at the shameful thing they’re telling us to do as a country, that we must now get on our knees to pray for the success of the nation. No nation will survive, no nation will develop by getting on their knees to pray,” said Emmanuel Gonquoi, commander-in-chief of the EFFL.

Liberia is not the first African country to resort to spiritual intervention in times of national hardship. Several other governments have asked their citizens to pray for God’s intervention in health, social and agricultural issues.

Capetonians pray for rain

Last year, at the height of a drought in the South African city of Cape Town, the government’s department of water and sanitation rallied citizens to pray for rain.

A banner on the department’s website read ‘PRAY FOR RAIN: Team South Africa is called upon to pray or meditate for much needed rain during the weekend of 9 – 11 February, 2018.

BEyond prayer, Capetonians were urged to use available water responsibly to avoid the dreaded ‘Day Zero’, when taps were expected to dry up.

Zambians pray and fast against cholera

In 2018, Zambia’s minister of Religion and National Guidance, Hon. Reverend Godfridah Sumaili declared one week of prayer and fasting, urging citizens to ask for God’s intervention in an ongoing cholera epidemic.

Sumaili warned that every Zambian must observe the fasting period to Kick out Cholera from the Land which was scheduled to last from January 15th to January 22nd.

‘‘We are standing on 2nd Chronicles 7:14 . Daniel 9:3-23 and Isaiah 1:19,’‘ said the minister of Religion.

Zambia had also in 2015 declared October 18 as a Day of National Prayer and Fasting, gazetting the day as a public holiday.

Malawi’s cabinet leads prayers to protect maize crop

In January last year, Malawi’s president Peter Mutharika asked cabinet ministers and all senior government officials to lead prayer vigils at mosques and churches.

“The President urges the faith community and all Malawians to pray for good rains and a productive season this Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” read a statement from the presidency.

The call was made as the country’s staple maize crop was facing dire threats from a dry spell and a worsening pest infestation.

Mosques lead prayers for rain in Morocco

In 2017, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI issued a royal decree asking Moroccans to “to implore the Almighty to spread his benevolent rains on the earth”.

All mosques in the country were instructed to lead prayers for rain on Fridays, as the lack of rainfall threatened the country’s agricultural yields.