The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
IT is around 1pm on a sunny Saturday afternoon with the easterly breeze providing a cooling effect to thousands of pilgrims draped in eye-catching white garments gathered for the afternoon session during a three-day long Passover crusade at African Apostolic Church’s Mapembe Shrine in Odzi.
Not much time is wasted before the director of ceremonies calls the church to order by chanting a hymn that all attendees instantly provide backing vocals, making a sweet, humming sound that resonates down the environs of Mapembe area and even beyond.
While all are seated on the ground, there is a lone figure, unlike all others on the ground, he is seated on a chair under a small white tent near the podium and that is none other than the AAC leader, Archbishop Paul Mwazha.
Grey haired and frail he is in the eyes of a novice at the annual gathering, but Archbishop Mwazha’s antics during the session will soon prove looks are deceiving.
Following proceedings throughout the session with keen interest, instantly interjecting with authority whenever testimonies go out of way, standing up to intercede to God after every other testimony, giving spiritual and fatherly advice where necessary, Archbishop Mwazha leads his church with so much energy and aplomb that leaves any neophyte in awe.
More so, when one considers he turns 99 on October 25 this year.
The secret to his longevity has been a riddle wrapped in mystery to many and this week, The Manica Post attended the annual Mapembe Passover pilgrimage after which Archbishop Mwazha’s own daughter, Tendai (47) shared insights into the well being of her elderly dad.
“I think it all has to do with divine intervention. I am his daughter, but I have seen a lot about him that I cannot really explain in word since my childhood when I used to stay with him and later when I moved out to start my own family.
“He is a man who is highly favoured by God. His health is awesome. He is so energetic especially when he is in church, maybe because that is where the presence of God manifests more.
“Apart from that there is also the issue of diet. He just does not eat anything anytime. He is so particular about what he eats. He relies more on traditional dishes,” she said.
Not even the recent untimely death of his wife, Amai Joyce Makaonesu Mwazha, has drained the energy in this larger-than-life Man of God.
Mrs Mwazha, who was 79, succumbed to diabetes that she battled with for a long time at her home in Hatfield, Harare.
She was arguably the most influential woman in the country as she commanded more than half a million women in the ACC, where she was revered for her philanthropic activities, marriage construction and counselling, women and girls empowerment, influencing women around the world and her unwavering support for her 98 year-old husband and messenger of Africa Archbishop Mwazha.
But today, Archbishop Mwazha still goes strong and seems to be managing to get over the throes of losing his wife.
“At times I shed tears when I fail to come to terms with the loss of my mother, but our dad has been a pillar of strength. Yes, it hurts him, but somehow he seems to find strength in prayer and we have been able to copy that from him.
“However, I think his recovery from our late mother’s death has also been centred on his work in church,” she said.
Such is the inspiring life of a devoted church leader who has made a name for the good work he has done for his followers unlike many contemporary church leaders who have hogged the limelight all for the wrong reasons.
