Online Reporter
Harare Bureau
Apostle Paul Mwazha, a towering figure in Zimbabwe’s spiritual history and founder of the African Apostolic Church, has been declared a National Hero following his death on Thursday.
He died aged 107.
President Mnangagwa conferred the honour yesterday, recognising Apostle Mwazha’s extraordinary contribution to the growth of indigenous Christianity and his enduring influence on millions of Zimbabweans.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary, Mr Raphael Faranisi, confirmed the development last night.
“I received a call from our Minister (Kazembe Kazembe), who was in Maputo for the Zimbabwe-Mozambique Bi-National Commission, advising me that His Excellency had conferred National Hero status on Apostle Mwazha,” he said.
He said the ministry immediately began the administrative procedures that follow such a declaration but had to wait for all political-level communications with the family to be finalised.
“On our part as a ministry we then commenced the necessary processes that kick in whenever some is declared a National Hero, that includes engaging the family of the deceased,” said Amb Faranisi.
“But before we could engage the family, we realised that on the political level the family was yet to be advised and was only due to be advised tonight (yesterday).
“As you know our work is largely administrative and we have to wait for all the necessary political processes to be completed first.
“But I can confirm that by mid-morning today (yesterday) the decision had been made and communicated to us to commence the requisite processes.”
Apostle Mwazha leaves behind a profound legacy as one of the pioneers of African independent churches.
He was part of an early generation of indigenous spiritual leaders — alongside Johane Marange and Johane Masowe — who established autonomous Christian movements that embraced African cultural identity and responded to local spiritual needs.
Born on 25 October 1918, at Holy Cross Mission in Chirumanzu, Apostle Mwazha’s life story is interwoven with accounts of divine intervention.
As a gravely ill infant, he was baptised “Paul” by a German Catholic missionary and reportedly recovered miraculously — an event his followers long regarded as prophetic.
He trained as a teacher at Howard Institute and later served in the Methodist Church before breaking away in the late 1950s, citing a series of spiritual visions that called him to begin an independent ministry.
This culminated in the founding of the African Apostolic Church, which grew into one of Zimbabwe’s largest indigenous denominations, boasting thousands of branches across Africa and millions of congregants worldwide.
His evangelical work flourished during and after the colonial era, establishing him as one of the first Zimbabweans to form and lead a Zionist-influenced African church.
Over nearly seven decades, Apostle Mwazha — widely known as Mutumwa — presided over a movement whose followers worship in open spaces, often dressed in white garments symbolising purity.
Revered for his humility, spiritual discipline and devotion to social and moral upliftment, Apostle Mwazha was among the most influential religious figures in modern Zimbabwean history.
Conferment of the national hero status places him among the few spiritual leaders to receive the country’s highest honour.
derick.khumalo