Church seeks development role

THE private sector has been urged to incorporate church in its activities in order to have a universal distribution of resources across the country. “There is a lot of wealth in this world but because of lack of unity, people find it difficult to acquire it and end up being poor”, Pastor Rick Warren said. Warren said this while at a working dinner with heads of the chambers of the private sector, Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA) and other companies on Friday, October 12 at Serena Hotel, organised by the Peace Plan Association of Rwanda. He explained that pastors have more local credibility than politicians and civil society since they are closer to their people. He continued that implementing government programs should involve the church in order to achieve success. “Rwanda is rebuilding herself, that’s why we need the church to actively participate in the initiative and cannot do so if it’s left out of development activities” Warren added. Pastor Warren explained that the private sector has a lot to offer in assisting developing countries such as capital investments management skills training, and creation of jobs, but that all this can not easily be achieved when the church is not involved. The president of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) Robert Bayigamba said there was need to have a network between the church and the private sector to achieve national goals. “Religion has a big role in development programs and it should be considered for economic and social transformation of society”, Bayigamba said. Bayigamba explained that there was need to harmonise private, public sectors and the church in order to achieve development goals. Ends