Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ONE of the key dictates of the principles of humility is that what the right hand gives, the left one should not know!
This sums up how the late United Methodist Church (UMC) clergyman Reverend Maxwell Chambara lived his life.
Rev Chambara succumbed to Covid-19 related complications on January 15.
He was buried next to his first wife Linda Chambara nee Sauramba at Old Mutare Mission at a cemetery reserved for distinguished pastors and their spouses.
He is survived by children Lizzie, Maxwell Junior, Elisha and Tendai, as well as wife Patricia.
His son, Edgar, passed away in 2012.
Born December 30, 1948 in Gandanzara Village, Rusape, many do not know that Reverend Chambara opted out of a fairly rewarding job as Hartzel Mission’s farm manager to undertake theology studies.
Reverend Chambara left his job at a time when he was the family’s breadwinner.
“He quit his job in 1988 and joined pastoral work. He had tried to resist the call but got to a point where he could no longer resist it,” said Maxwell Chambara Junior, the late reverend’s son.
“These spiritual things are hard to understand. A lot of people could not believe him but I believed him because I had seen a number of miraculous things in his life.
“There were five of us in our family and none of us was working when he decided to quit his job. My siblings and l were all still in school and it was a critical time for the family, yet the breadwinner chose God and quit his job. Looking back, it is difficult to understand how we sailed through. It was just miraculous,” narrated Maxwell Jnr in a wide ranging interview with The Manica Post from his American base.
Speaking on the legacy of the late clergyman, Maxwell said Rev Chambara sacrificed a lot during the liberation struggle.
“In the 1970s, we would accommodate the liberation war fighters who would have come to transport medical supplies back to the other fighters in Mozambique. It was extremely dangerous but that’s how patriotic he was.”
Rev Chambara was the seventh child in a family of eight.
Maxwell Jnr said the late reverend learnt about prayer and working for the Lord through his uncle, Sekuru Phillip Chieza, who was a minister of religion.
Rev Chambara also had a passion for football.
“He was a talented guy and played football for Umtali United in the 70s. He actually played alongside big names back then such as Isaac ‘Daddy’ Mafaro who later went on to play for CAPS United,” said Maxwell.
He went on to speak about his father’s humility.
“He was a humble man, always striving to do the right thing. My father was not judgemental. He would mix and mingle with those who did not share his beliefs.
“He was so prayerful. He would pray every morning before leaving the house and do the same in the evening. He would pray for everybody in the family, the community and the country. He was a prayer warrior.
“He also loved his culture. He respected his elders, especially his brothers.”
“Rev Chambara was a loving and caring father who wanted his children to excel in life. I cannot say he was strict, but he was really concerned about how we would build our future.
“I was so talented in football and he thought I would not take my education seriously. He was a bit tough with me on that as he wanted me to play football after my education.
“That is something I went on to do. After getting my tertiary qualification, I played for Masvingo United. But he wanted me to stay focused on my education, he did not want me to wholly rely on football,” said Maxwell.
Turning to family life, Maxwell Jnr said his father is being greatly missed.
“Rev Chambara was a good husband and father. Growing up, we never saw him beating our mother or stepmother.
“He would do everything to make the family happy. He never forced us to believe in what he believed in, but would teach us in a convincing way.”
The late Reverend’s son, Elisha, is following his father’s footsteps.
“Elisha got the call and he is currently in Namibia where he is preaching the word of God,” said Maxwell Jnr.
“When our father died, he was writing books – the preacher’s manual. The other one is being finalised and has topics that cover marriages, worshipping, Christianity, losing loved ones and politics.”
Anglican church Reverend Canon Abel Waziweyi also spoke glowingly about the late man of cloth.
“Rev Chambara would accommodate people from all denominations. This made him popular among pastors and it helped unite the church in Manicaland,” said Rev Waziweyi.
Rev Chambara went to the Theological College in 1989 and completed his studies in 1992.
He was appointed a pastor in charge in Mashava in 1993 and in 1994 he was moved to Masvingo.
He worked hard with the people there to make sure a church was built.
In 1997, he was transferred to St James’ in Dangamvura, where he was the pastor in charge.
In 1998 he was transferred to Mutambara Mission as the Chimanimani District Superintendent (DS), a position he held for six years.
In 2005, he was appointed DS for Mutare, and during the same year he lost his wife, Linda Chambara.
In 2006, he was appointed pastor in charge at St Peters’ in Chitungwiza.
He then married Patricia Chiremba in 2008.
Soon after, he was appointed to Cranbonne and later moved to Hatfield. He retired while serving Hatfield Circuit and then later served on part time basis at Zimre Park as an assistant pastor.