The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
THE JOHANNE Marange Apostolic Church has turned over a new leaf with their massive investments in the education sector running into millions of dollars.
The church, whose members used to shun education, has constructed 26 state-of-the-art schools in less than 10 years.
Well-known for their craftsmanship and big families, the church is now leveraging on that to harness skills and labour to build school structures, usually in the remotest parts of the country.
The imposing double-storey buildings at the pioneer school, St Noah College in Mafararikwa, Marange, is one such an institution.
With enrolments of more than 2 000 and 1 000 learners at St Noah Primary and High Schools respectively, the church is now embarking on a boarding facility project.
President Mnangagwa was on Wednesday in Mafararikwa for the ground breaking ceremony of the boarding facility at St Noah College.
Having been charmed by the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church’s industriousness, President Mnangagwa gave the church a major shot in the arm through the donation of twelve 30-tonne trucks of cement, US$100 000, a bus and truck loads of food to be consumed by the construction workers.
“I was here when the first bricks of both the primary and secondary schools were laid. I am a very good builder and the work of my hands here at the school are there for everyone to see. Today, I am back again for the ground breaking ceremony of the boarding facility.
“We are the masters of our own destiny and I am happy to see the work being done by the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church. The late St Noah Taguta started this schools programme and his successor and son, St Nimrod Taguta, is proving to be equal to the task. The church is leaving its education footprints in all the provinces and I am very happy with this development.
Thousands of people gathered for the ground breaking ceremony
“In the past, people would look upon Government to build schools for them, but that is no longer the case. Wherever you are, if you still entertain the thought that Government should construct schools for you, that spirit should leave you. God gave you the ability to do these things.
“Look at the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church, they are proving to be torch bearers of the nyika inovakwa nevene vayo mantra. They are building schools in almost every province. With the St Noah College being the headquarters and the church having members from Beitbridge to Chirundu and Mutare to Plumtree, they enrol a lot of learners from across the country.
“However since they were having accommodation challenges, some of the learners ended up finding alternative accommodation in nearby homes and shop backyards and this spurred the church into action.
“In such circumstances, a boarding school is the answer so that learners can be accommodated in decent facilities, girls on their own and boys on their own. They will only meet in the dining and classrooms,” said President Mnangagwa.
He added: “The Israelites built Jerusalem brick upon brick and stone upon stone and that is what we are now doing in Zimbabwe. If you harbour thoughts that foreigners will develop this country for us, you should wake up from that slumber because no one will do that. We will develop this country at our own pace.
“Government is there to facilitate the construction of schools across the country as more schools are needed. All those who want to invest in the education sector should not face any challenges, be it from the traditional leadership or local authorities. When you encounter any challenges with these institutions, don’t hesitate to approach us, we will whip them into line,” he said.
Johanne Marange Apostolic Church representative, Mr Edmore Muchirahondo said the church has embraced Government’s development agenda and will continue investing in infrastructural development that will assist church members and the community at large.
“President Mnangagwa and our High Priest Nimrod are great minds. They think alike. These two want to see the transformation of this great nation through massive infrastructural development. When St Nimrod took over from his late father, St Noah, he hit the ground sprinting and look at where we are today, we now have 26 schools.
“Five years ago when we were at the ground breaking ceremony of this stadium, I coined the phrase that ED stands for Economic Development and this has been adopted by almost everyone and I think I should levy both Government and the party for this,” said Mr Muchirahondo.
St Noah College’s School Development Committee chairman, Mr David Chimbadzo said: “This will be our first boarding facility as a church. We have a unique way of building our schools. When we want to embark on a project, we congregate at the centre in our thousands and make pledges. We have all the skilled personnel in our church and each and every one pledges something.
“Construction is done in a very short space of time. We want to have imposing state-of-the-art infrastructure everywhere. Gone are the days when people would look down upon us. We have also embraced technology as most of our schools are equipped with computers,” said Mr Chimbadzo.
The church spokesperson, Mr Nyasha Marange said: “Besides constructing schools, St Nimrod is spearheading the construction of Mutandati and Muroti Dams. These products are benefitting the church and the local community. We want to see a developed Marange.”
Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri; Zanu PF national secretary for finance, Cde Patrick Chinamasa and Zanu PF national commissar, Cde Mike Bimha pledged 30 tonnes of cement apiece.
Zanu PF national secretary for youth affairs, Cde Tino Machakaire pledged ten 30-tonne truckloads of bricks and US$10 000.
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu pledged 1 000 litres of fuel and 200 computers.
Dr Munyaradzi Kereke pledged US$25 000, while a senior church member, Mr Sam Charumbira, pledged US$10 000 and beef worth US$5 000.
Mr Marange, the spokesperson, pledged five beasts.
