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ALL roads in Mutare will lead to the Mutare Show-Grounds as the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland celebrates its 33rd anniversary since its convenience breakaway from the Diocese of Mashonaland which was divided then to cater for the growing number of people in the church.
The Diocese of Manicaland is the epicentre of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe as it boasts a large following numbering well over 60 000 congregants. It also has its first secondary school for Africans at St Augustine’s Mission in the 1930s then led by the Community of the Resurrection and a teacher training college.
The celebrations also come at a time when the CPCA has gained full control of its properties in March 2013 and has since been working tirelessly to restore its educational institutions to their former glory.
They had been eroded during the five years when a splinter group led by the ex-communicated bishop Elson Jakazi controlled the institutions.
Among the bishops are the Rt Reverend Elijah Masuku, Rt Reverend Dr Sebastian Bakare and currently the Rt Reverend Dr Julius Makoni, who is holding fort.
A number of activities have been lined up for the day which will start with a procession from St Agnes Anglican Church, Chikanga, at 7am.
People from across the diocese and friends of the diocese from across the country and beyond are expected to grace the occasion.
Among the activities will be a brief history of the church and its work in the diocese, solidarity messages from partners and stakeholders, drama and music from the different church choirs, schools and groups like Wabvuwi, Mother’s Union, youths and Sunday School.
There will be something for everybody and it will be a great day not only for families but for the whole Anglican family as well and the wider Christian community in general.
The programme will run from 8am to 4pm
The Diocese of Manicaland boasts six high schools that are highly rated nationally and have produced excellent results over the years.
They are St Faith’s High School in Rusape, St David’s Girls’ High School Bonda, St Augustine’s High School Penhalonga, St Mary Magdalene’s High School in Nyanga and St Anne’s High Goto in Hwedza.
There are also other day secondary schools doted across the province among them St Peter’s Mandeya in Honde Valley, St Werburgh’s Chigodora and St James Zingoro, among others.
In total the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland currently has 46 schools under its armpit with some former church schools that have been run under the rural district councils applying to come back under its fold.
The hospital at Bonda has provided quality healthcare services to the Mutasa community for many years which has seen people travelling from as far as Mutare to seek its services. Its nursing school has churned out nurses who have gone on to do sterling work across the country.
There are also four other clinics that are being run by the Diocese of Manicaland and have helped the communities around these missions.
They are St Peter’s Mandeya, St Augustine’s Penhalonga, St Werburgh’s Chigodora and Nhedziwa clinic in Nyazura.
To cap also this, the diocese has two orphanages: Robert Mugabe at St Augustine’s Penhalonga run by the Community of the Holy Name of Jesus sisters and at Bonda run by the Community of Transfiguration sisters.
There is also the Community of Divine Compassion at Angler’s Rest in Nyanga.
Given this richness of community service to the people of Manicaland there is every reason for the people of this province to come together and thank God for guiding the diocese over the years.
Online Reporter