Visit to ZCC Mbungo

UDACIZA management visited Zion Christian church headquarters in Bikita.

On our arrival we were instantly checked our COVID-19 status on the gate .they used the kit which was similar to the HIV/AIDS self-testing kit. Within 15 minutes the COVID-19 results were out .Our car was sprayed and we were directed to Cresta, ZCC hotel. We were accompanied by Mr Mufandaedza and upon entering the hotel we were again thoroughly sprayed.

Later on Mutendi junior joined us before the meeting with his Grace Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi. We were then requested to tour the shrine first .We were driven around by a top of range game vehicle.

ZCC Dam

Firstly we visited the site which they were developing a dam that ZCC proclaim to be among one of the biggest dams in Masvingo when completed. Mr Mufandaedza, our tour guide said all the engineers which were contributing to the construction of the dam and resources were from their church.

Wheat plantation and brick layering site

Our second visit was at the winter wheat plantations .Our tour guide explained to us how the church contributed to raise the sufficient funds to connect electricity

for winter ploughing. Our next visit was at the brick layering site .He said ZCC also contributed bricks to the Cyclone Idai victims.

TALITHA CUM hospital

We further went to visit TALITHA CUM hospital .The hospital is still under construction and they are expecting it to cater for Bikita district .All local clinics will refer to this site. We were also shown some state of art medical machines they had bought .We proceeded to our next stop which was ZCC Primary school .Only the security guard was visible in the school yard .We were shown some of the school buildings .The school was quiet .We drove across the road to another dam which is still under construction .The dam will be used for dairy projects .We proceeded to be shown the cows and the padlocks for the alleged project.

After the amazing tour we had a meeting with Bishop Mutendi accompanied by his team. In the meeting they were six men and one woman .Bishop Mutendi opened the meeting by explaining the background of ZCC .He said that his father Bishop Samuel Mutendi and his friend Bishop Engenas Lekhanyane were ordained by Edward Leon.Bishop Samuel Mutendi and his friend tried to register ZCC in South Africa and they were denied.

Then Bishop Samuel Mutendi travelled to Zimbabwe and applied for a licence to operate the church .The licence was approved in 1939 that is the year Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi was born .Bishop Samuel Mutendi then gave his friend Bishop Engenas Lekhanyane the licence to operate in Republic of South Africa .Then the congregation from the South Africa used to visit ZCC Mbungo shrine and they suddenly stopped. He narrated how he visited people who were famous with church developments. He explained how the media make fun of him when he visited Lewanyika and Shembe shrines .He said in some places he was forced to crawl but for the sake of development he had to lower himself to that level in order to meet people who were behind the development.

With UDACIZA he said he was interested with Development and how it was to spread through Africa. Rev Edson Tsvakai explained UDACIZA background .He narrated how the then Governor of Mashonaland East Mr Witness Mangwende encouraged the founding President of UDACIZA Bishop Xavier Chitanda to form an organisation for the Apostolic and Zionist churches which will speak with one voice .He went on to narrate how he met Ambassador Shava at his lodge Troppicanno in Ruwa ,when they were training home based care givers .He advised them to look for a patron who will spearhead their objectives.

UDACIZA managed to develop HIV/AIDS policy in 2005 and when the founding President died several networks were formed .UDACIZA, maintained its mission and values .We also expect our members, funders, and partners to support our vision, to be a leading reputable Umbrella body championing spiritual and socio-economic development .Bishop Mutendi asked what we were doing in Development terms, The writer (Rev I.Chitanda) then explained the Strategic Action Plan.

The Strategic Action Plan was developed in 2011 .Eighty children and twenty two adults from the Apostolic churches were invited after the ZDHS 2011 revealed that most of the apostolic and Zionist girls were not reaching beyond grade 4 .the survey went on to state how the rate of our members were not utilising modern health facilities which was leading to a high maternal and neo natal death.

Groups were divided into the Northern region which covered Harare, Mashonaland east , Mashonaland west , and Manicaland region which consisted of Masvingo , Midlands,Matebeleland South ,Matebeleland North and Bulawayo .The meetings were facilitated by relevant ministries which works with children ,Ministry of Health ,Ministry of social Welfare ,Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth .The Northern region were fortunate to have Deputy Minister Of Health then Doctor Mombeshora gracing the meeting. The facilitators from each ministry explained what the Apostolic and Zionist were lacking by isolating themselves from the entire Zimbabwean community.

After the presentation UNICEF experts led by a gender specialist Annah Mutavati then gave us a questionnaire which was answered by children .UDACIZA management then presented children recommendations to the Northern and Southern Region church leaders. In Harare about 205 leaders attended the meeting and in Bulawayo 150 were in attendance .As a facilitator it was one of the most difficult sessions I have ever led .We managed to develop some resolutions .Then we invited a consultant Brian Maguranyanga who helped us to develop Apostolic Strategic Action Plan which had five thematic Areas ,water andsaniation,Health ,Child protection ,women and youth empowerment and leadership development.

We narrated what we achieved in Apostolic Strategic Action Plan (2013-2016) and what we are now implementing in Apostolic Strategic Action Plan (2017-2022) .We congratulated ZCC for the modern Health facilities which was still under construction in ZCC shrines and challenged them to come out and train other leaders to save lives .However, there was a need to advocate for the co-existence of Faith and modern health facilities at national level.

In another program which we are implementing in Bikita, Buhera, Chipnge and Gokwe North we are strengthening the role of church in Devolution and Decentralisation.Bishop Mutendi questioned about the absence of livelihood programs in strategic Action Plan.

Why should people work? The Bible gives some remarkably comprehensive and penetrating answers that have little to do with meeting needs, finding fulfilment, becoming successful, or accumulating wealth. Work is God-ordained. It is part of his original intention for human beings. King Solomon warned of poverty and foolishness that would come to those who are lazy, and Paul stated bluntly that if a man will not work, he shall not eat. Charles Spurgeon taught that labour was a shield against the temptations of the devil and noted that God often spoke to people when they were working.

UDACIZA then invited Bishop Mutendi to be amongst leaders in the formulation of the Apostolic Strategic Action Plan (3) sometime next year. UDACIZA programs are informed by Apostolic and Zionist leaders.