Mwari* [Um-wah-ree], Ruler of the Universe, hear our prayers for your people.
Nkulunkulu** [Un-koo-loon-koo-loo], hear our prayers for your land.
Eternal One, hear our prayers for Zimbabwe.

As the stones stand tall, bring strength to your people.
As the mighty Zambezi River roars, bring renewal to your land.
As generations have walked, lead Zimbabwe into glory.

Like a star in your universe, may Zimbabwe shine.
Like the ‘Fruit Basket of southern Africa’ it once was, may the land prosper.
Like the ancestors, may your people walk in hope.

Hear our prayer for Zimbabwe, land of beauty and majesty,
Land of promise and possibility,
Land of richness and prosperity.

Forgive our participation in its ravage.
Forgive our misguided and harsh judgement of poverty.
Forgive our ability to ignore the consequences of our choices.

Open our hearts and minds to lessons from Zimbabwe,
Harsh lessons about environmental decimation,
Important lessons about community, co-existence and cooperation.

Love Force, unite us with our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe.
Connect us through prayer, song and action.
Mwari, Nkulunkulu, hear our prayer. Amen.

*Shona name for God, from eastern Zimbabwe
**Ndebele name for God, from western Zimbabwe

Originally published in ‘Hope in the making: Prayer Partners 2026, Commitment for Life, United Reformed Church, Great Britain

Photo:  Worship at Plumtree United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), Plumtree, Zimbabwe — taken by Ana Gobledale