adminLawrence Chitumba Review Writer
At a time when most people claiming to hear God’s voice seem to be getting messages of how they can get rich and richer by the day, one man stands out.
Sylvester Mudimu, the self-proclaimed God’s messenger who hit the headlines for his charitable deeds in the 1990s is set to start yet another charity project, this time targeted at the elderly and the girl child.
He revealed this recently in an interview with the Herald Review and said that his charity work was inspired by God’s calling.
Mudimu, who now lives in the Njelele area of Gokwe says he is constantly receiving a calling from God instructing him to register a charity organisation in his native area of Murewa to be named National Talent Sharing Charity of Zimbabwe NATASHA.
“If God instructs you through his calling to do something and you ignore it he will not be happy about it, so I cannot afford to ignore the calling but to do as per his instruction.
“I have been instructed to start eight projects which would sustain themselves while creating employment for the youth especially the girl child at the same time taking care of the women who are after the child bearing age, “he said.
He says God had told him that the project was going to elevate its members to a level where most people with steady employment cannot afford.
The launch of the charity organisation, which is expected soon will take place at Zhombwe Primary School where Mudimu received his primary education.
Five villages around the school will brew some beer, which will be consumed at the ceremony using sorghum that Mudimu will provide. Meat will come from animals killed in routine culling by The Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Authority in the area and everything else is being left in the hands of God.
“As for the money that will be used at the launch I will leave that to God the almighty who I am sure will make it available like what he did to Abraham because he is the driver of this project,” said Mudimu with simplistic hope and faith.
Mudimu hit the headlines in the Sunday News of November 8 1992 when he single-handedly sourced cash and materials to construct an extra two classrooms at Hyde Park Primary School in Bulawayo.
The total worth of his fundraising came to $5 000.
“In 1984 I had a feeling that I should do something more than just ordinary police duties for the people,” he told the Sunday News.
Sylvester Mudimu retired from the police force on August 9 1993 saying that he wanted to dedicate the rest of his life to community work after serving as a policeman for 20 years.
“I feel I will be of more value to the community than I have been to the police force,” he told The Sunday News then.
After being moved by their plight, he brought 94 women together to form a welfare organisation called Zvanhasi Reception Pioneers.
The organisation established an agricultural marketing co-operative on a 33 hectare plot situated between Hyde Park and Pumula high density suburb.
Mudimu was born in Murewa, Mukwengura village, Zhombwe area in 1951 and is married with seven children, five girls and two boys. All his children are degreed save for the last born girl who is doing upper six.
He says he does not want to see people suffer and would like to help if ever he can. His wish is to see more people giving a second thought to the less privileged and if possible chip in with whatever they can afford.
Mudimu says that the donor dependency syndrome has destroyed our society’s humanity and innate kindness as we now expect NGOs to take care of the disadvantaged groups as a matter of course.
He looks forward to a situation whereby every society looks after its vulnerable groups like the elderly and orphans unlike now when everyone including the leaders expects strangers to look after their disadvantaged.
In his spare time Mudimu takes his fishing rod and heads to the nearest dam or river for some fishing. He likes his sadza with traditional relishes like pumpkin leaves (muboora), dried vegetables and the fish, which he catches himself sometimes.
Online Reporter