AFM elder dies at 106

Luke Mafere
ONE of the longest serving Apostolic Faith Mission elders in Zimbabwe, Mr Johwani Joe has died.

He was 106.

Mr Joe succumbed to stomach aches and was briefly admitted at Mutambara Mission Hospital before being discharged on January 31. He died on February 1.

Born in Chimanimani in Dzanji, Mr Joe was an avid member of the AFM Church in Zimbabwe and held the post of elder at the time of his death.

Besides his spiritual works “Sekuru Joe” as he was affectionately known in his area was also very instrumental in community development projects to alleviate poverty. He worked tirelessly with TSURO Trust and as result spearheaded the construction of toilets in the Chikwakwa area where he hailed from. The toilets project spread to cover almost the whole of Chikwakwa area. Before the country’s independence, he assisted freedom fighters by providing the much needed information pertaining the movement of the Rhodesia Front troops.

He was also an avid farmer leading a gardening project called Suburb that grew almost all vegetables and fed the greater Chikwakwa village under irrigation. The project was formed before independence and eventually collapsed in the early 80s.

He was also an instrumental member of the team that former Member of Parliament for Chimanimani, Mr Michael Mataure worked with in borehole projects in the constituency alleviating water challenges that affected the area.

He is survived by his wife, Zemutsa Mwakutuya (95), six children, 25 great grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren.