Seke Rd to close tomorrow as Vapostori 4ED carry o...

Seke Rd to close tomorrow as Vapostori 4ED carry out cleansing rites along black spot stretch

ZimNow Reporter

The City of Harare has announced a temporary road closure along Seke Road on Sunday, 7 September 2025, to accommodate the Vapostori for ED National Cleansing Prayer.

According to a notice from the Town Clerk’s office, the city-bound lane between Chinhano Service Station and Zororo Memorial Park will be shut from 11:00hrs to 14:00hrs. During this period, traffic heading into Harare will be diverted into the Chitungwiza-bound lane, which will temporarily operate as two-way traffic under the guidance of enforcement agents. Motorists have been urged to approach the area with caution and reduce speed.

The cleansing prayer is expected to draw large numbers of congregants and is part of a growing calendar of faith-based gatherings in support of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Organisers say the event is meant to “cleanse the nation” and intercede for peace, prosperity, and the protection of leadership.

Behind the gathering is the Vapostori for ED, a grouping of apostolic and Zionist-inspired churches that publicly declared loyalty to Mnangagwa after the 2017 political transition.

The organisation is fronted by leaders such as Madzibaba Moses Gwasirira, and has become known for staging mass prayers in white garments, mixing religious devotion with overt political solidarity. While critics accuse it of politicising faith, its members frame the gatherings as a national spiritual duty.

The closure comes at a time when the Harare–Chitungwiza corridor is under sharp scrutiny for safety lapses. The highway, one of the busiest in Zimbabwe, has long been notorious for accidents linked to speeding, reckless driving, and poor enforcement.

Only weeks ago, a horrific crash on Chitungwiza Road claimed at least 17 lives when a haulage truck veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a commuter minibus. The wreckage, which left the kombi flattened beneath the truck, sparked national mourning and prompted President Mnangagwa to declare the tragedy a national disaster. Calls for tougher enforcement and urgent rehabilitation of the highway have since intensified.

(Full coverage here: Zim Now Report)

City officials say measures are being put in place to ensure that both worshippers and motorists are safe during Sunday’s prayer session. Informational signage, police presence, and enforcement agents will be deployed to manage traffic flow.

Still, with accident memories fresh and traffic volumes rising, the temporary closure highlights the delicate balance between accommodating religious freedoms and safeguarding commuters. For many residents, the hope is that this weekend’s event does not add another entry to the already grim history of Seke Road.