Blessing Chizhande
Patrick Chitumba
A GWERU church leader who rose to prominence after praying and fasting for 41 days for a Bulawayo family under siege from Covid-19 has died.
Mrs Rachel Sibanda of Mkoba 5, died on 8 August 2026 at Gweru General Hospital following a short illness. She was 57. She was laid to rest at Mutasa Cemetery in Gweru on 11 August 2026.
Mrs Sibanda shot to fame in 2020 after she committed to pray daily for a Bulawayo family whose five members had tested positive for Covid-19. At a time when fear gripped the nation, the family said they clung to her prayers for survival.
Speaking to Sunday News at the height of the pandemic, Mrs Sibanda, then 51, said she started praying for the family after hearing about their plight from her child.
“I heard of the Bulawayo family from one of my children. She was crying and I asked her what was wrong and she said a classmate of hers had her whole family tested positive for Covid-19 in Bulawayo and I just said it was going to be well with them,” she said.
“I started praying for the family from the time they tested positive and to this day I still fast for them. I had a vision in 2017 where an illness would strike and God would heal the people eventually.”
For 41 consecutive days, Mrs Sibanda prayed with the family by phone, day and night, until four of the five members recovered. One remained in self-isolation.
“I prayed with the family day and night every single day for a total of 41 days — the day they received their results. I would call them on their mobile phone and up to date, I don’t know how I got all that money to buy airtime to call because it was a lot of money but God does provide,” she said then.
“Several times I would call them and they would be down and weary but I strengthened them and told them that God was able to do miracles and that they should not lose hope.”
Mrs Sibanda founded Woman of Prayer Ministries in 2005 after leaving her initial place of worship. She regularly hosted prayer sessions at her Mkoba home.
Born on 10 March 1969, Mrs Sibanda was a twin. Though she had no biological children, she lived with her sibling’s children and was married to a husband she described as supportive of her ministry.
Church members and community leaders in Mkoba have described her as a woman of faith who served selflessly during one of the country’s darkest health crises.
She is survived by her husband and four children.
Online Reporter