Prime Minister`s wife, Tunu Pinda

Prime Minister`s wife, Tunu Pinda, has said that women were in a better position to pray for the nation so that the Al-Might God could protect the country from calamities and disasters.

“Let's use our positions as women to form a huge force of prayers for our country. Our country needs prayers, and for sure it requires God to fix the challenges we see in our families, national economy and other issues," she stressed.

She made the statement in Dar es Salaam on Saturday night when officially closing the National Women's Symposium that lasted for three days.

The symposium brought together 70 women from 31 regions of Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar and invited guests from Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya and Uganda.

“I wish to ask you not to get tired in praying to God, He will grant us what we ask of Him," she added.

She also used the opportunity to ask women to pray for Members of Parliament, who represent over 45 million Tanzanians, as set out for a long budget meeting scheduled to kick off tomorrow.

“We all believe that the prayers we're going to hold here will not be for nothing, they will help bring about change, including making us stronger and more courageous, bearing in mind that leaders are supposed to use their positions for the benefit of the entire nation," she said.

She called on Tanzanians to be patriotic wherever they are, commit themselves to the development of their country, work hard and be prepared to make sacrifices for the country.

Earlier, presenting a topic on Spiritual Maturity, a teacher from the United States, Nikku Kyungu, said women in the country have the opportunity to change things, provided that they are prepared “to give God a chance in their lives”.

Kyungu, who is a Tanzanian living in the US, and who “was born-again” at the age of seven, said she had a great burden of praying for the African continent so that its people could open up their minds, become patriotic and ensure that the enormous natural wealth around them benefit the poor majority.

For her part, Pastor Grace Kapswara from Zimbabwe called on women to be God fearing and make sacrifices for His sake.

She stressed that it was imperative that women prayed together as a team.

The three-day symposium was organised by the Tanzania Fellowship Churches under the leadership of Bishop Godfrey Malassy, who is also the chairman of an organisation known as, the Great National Vigil.