Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
NATIONAL hero and founder of the African Apostolic Church, Apostle Paul Mwazha, is being remembered by his followers as a visionary mentor whose teachings helped shape some of the country’s leading business executives and community leaders.
Several of his protégés now run companies employing more than 1 500 people each, a legacy mourners say reflects his deep commitment to empowerment, discipline and education.
Apostle Mwazha died last Thursday at the age of 107.
Mourners have been gathering at his Hatfield home at 8 Jefferson Road, where many described the conferment of National Hero status as fitting recognition of a man whose influence extended far beyond the pulpit.
In interviews, congregants highlighted that the African Apostolic Church has produced business leaders who now play significant roles in national development.
Among them are InterAfrica Buses chief executive Dr Leonard Mukumba; Phils and Pats Tankers owner Mr Watson Mukumba; Divine Excellency Academy founder Mr Emmanuel Zananda; and Rev John Mark Marevo, owner of John Mark Haulage.
Dr Mukumba, whose InterAfrica Bus is the country’s largest bus operator, said Apostle Mwazha’s teachings transformed his life.
“I was very poor when I joined the church in 1989, but Apostle Mwazha prayed for me and prophesied that I would become a successful businessman,” he said.
“True to his prophecy, I am now one of the biggest bus operators in the country, employing over 1 500 people.
“I would like to thank God for giving Apostle Mwazha a long life, and we are here as living testimonies of his good works and guidance.”
He added that Apostle Mwazha championed women’s empowerment and encouraged members to support one another.
“It’s not only me; within our church he has created corporate giants,” he added.
“Several members have generated employment, and some are women who are thriving in business.
“When I first joined, we had no vehicles and had to hire buses for our conferences, but now we use our own buses, and a large number of members own their own vehicles because we empower one another.”
Rev Marevo attributed both his business success and his commitment to uplifting vulnerable people to Apostle Mwazha’s influence.
“Through John Mark Haulage we have empowered more than 500 people, including the less privileged,” he said.
“Apostle Mwazha taught us not to limit ourselves to our church alone. To build a new Africa, he said, we must nurture people with skills and wisdom.”
For Mr Zananda, the inspiration to establish Divine Excellency Academy in Goromonzi came through vivid spiritual encounters.
“Apostle Mwazha would often visit me in my dreams, encouraging me to preach the gospel,” he said.
“This inspiration led me to establish this school, where I could instil discipline in children and teach them to build a better future.”
The academy, which now has nearly 400 pupils, sent students to perform at the funeral.
Mr Zananda said he wanted the Apostle to “see the fruits of his teachings” one last time.
He plans to convert the school into a boarding facility next year.
It also emerged that Apostle Mwazha was a strong advocate for education, with several of his followers now serving as managers in government institutions and lecturers at universities.
Airports Company of Zimbabwe acting manager for management and planning accounting, Mr Douglas Nyekete, said his achievements stem from the Apostle’s teachings.
“He prioritised education and consistently encouraged us to pursue it. I am where I am today because of his teachings,” Mr Nyekete said.
“Following his example, my own children have excelled; one is now an engineer, and another is studying medicine. Our church continues to push for educational achievement, and we now boast numerous graduates.”
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 October 25, 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.
He will be interred at Chirasauta on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
dyton mupawaenda