President Mnangagwa graces Johane Marange Apostolic Church annual Passover ceremony

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is today gracing the annual Johane Marange Apostolic Church Passover ceremony at the church’s St Noah Mafararikwa Shrine in the Bocha area of Marange, Manicaland Province.
The event is held over several days and attracts thousands of pilgrims from across Zimbabwe while also drawing others from neighbouring countries like Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.
Johane Marange Apostolic Church annual Passover ceremony holds spiritual significance as it is also attended by Government officials, political figures, businesspeople and community leaders.
Our team of Samuel Kadungure and Nyasha Chawatama is on the ground to give us up-to-the-minute updates of proceedings

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Pilgrims gather for Passover ceremony
Thousands of Johane Marange Apostolic Church members have converged at the church’s Mafararikwa Shrine for the Passover ceremony.
Joining those in the Bocha area of Marange, some have come from different parts of the country while others made their way from different parts of Africa.

Among the worshippers are the young, adults and the old.
Johane Marange Apostolic Church is one of the largest religious gatherings in the country and is led by High Priest Mutumwa St Nimrod Taguta

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Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri arrives
ZANU PF national Chairman and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has arrived at the Mafararikwa Shrine.

She was received by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Misheck Mugadza, the ruling party’s Maniacaland provincial chairman Cde Tawanda Mukodza and other officials

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President Mnangagwa touches down at Mafararikwa Shrine
President Mnangagwa has arrived at the Johane Marange Apostolic Church’s St Noah Mafararikwa Shrine.

He was received by ZANU PF national Chairman and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, service chiefs, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Misheck Mugadza, the ruling party’s Maniacaland provincial chairman Cde Tawanda Mukodza and other officials.

The President will address thousands of worshippers gathered for the church’s Passover ceremony to observe the sacred event.

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Mugadza hails church’s development drive
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, has hailed Johane Marange Apostolic Church for anchoring development intiatives in the province.
“This is a unique church. We are applaud the work they are doing in promoting development through various initiatives,” Minister Mugadza said.
“Ordinarily churches are there for prayer, but this is different. Look at what they have done in education — more than 40 schools across the country, especially here in Manicaland, with well-built institutions and everything running smoothly in line with the President’s policies.”
He said Government was leveraging such faith-based initiatives to deliver quality education and infrastructure at grassroots level.

“We are happy to be here today accompanying President Mnangagwa who is gracing the church’s Passover gathering at its St Noah Mafararikwa Shrine. We will have a good time of prayer, but when you look at the developmental aspect you see that this is the way to go for all our churches,” he added.
Minister Minister said the church is embodying the national development agenda by empowering communities from within.
“This Church empowers its own people. This Church helps the community. We say to them: please keep this up. This is what the President wants as we gravitate towards Vision 2030.”
He stressed that unity between State and Church was non-negotiable for progress.
“All the people of Manicaland support this Church and its developmental work. As the Government of Manicaland we are working very well with this Church. Our door is always open. We are there for them and they are also there for us,” said Minister Mugadza.
Government maintains that such partnerships are critical to unlocking the potential of the grassroots and expanding access to education and infrastructure

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Johane Marange Apostolic Church embraces women empowerment
ZANU PF Manicaland chairlady, Cde Dorothy Mabika, says Johane Marange Apostolic Church is making significant strides in empowering women.
This speaks to Government’s developmental thrust of raising women’s status through education, enhanced livelihoods and equal rights to promote their economic, social and political standing.

“We would like to commend Government and the church and for working hand in glove, particularly on empowerment. Women are now empowered both in the Church, educationally and economically under the Second Republic. We are working together with women. We now have women running their own businesses, are self-employed and able to support their families.

“Traditionally this was not the case, but now, under the Second Republic, the church and Government are working together, especially for the empowerment of women,” she said.

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‘Equipping youths with skills essential’
Johane Marange Apostolic Church is complementing Government efforts in imparting technical skills to young people across the country, ZANU PF Manicaland Provincial Youth Chairman, Cde Stanley Sakupwanya has said.
Cde Sakupwanya said through such initiatives, the church is also playing an important role in fighting the drug and substance abuse scourge plaguing communities.
“We are here as the youth leadership to witness this great historic occasion led by Saint Nimrod, the leader of this great Church which imparts skills to young people across the country. This church is not just an ordinary institution. It has built substantial infrastructure, including schools focused on heritage-based education, where skills and technical training is provided to young people. This is something we support and appreciate,” he said.

Even within the religious sector where prayers are offered for the nation to succeed, this church is leading by example, added Cde Sakupwanya.
“We thank His Excellency President Mnangagwa for coming to show his support for religious leaders who have the foresight that the country should not only be prayed for, but that action is also required,” he said.

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President Mnangagwa’s aerial survey of Mafararikwa Shrine

President Mnangagwa has surveyed the Johane Marange Apostolic Church’ Mafararikwa Shrine from the rooftop of helipad in Bocha, Marange.

A helipad is a designated landing and take-off area for helicopters, and its presence at the Mafararikwa Shrine demonstrates the church’s growing infrastructural sophistication, enabling dignitaries and logistical support to access the site directly.

The facility also reflects modern planning that aligns with the church’s wider investments in schools, education and community development befitting a major religious centre

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President Mnangagwa joins pilgrims
President Mnangagwa has joined other worshippers at the Johane Marange Apostolic Church holy ground for the Passover service.

The President will address thousands of pilgrims in attendance.

He is flanked by Member of House of Assembly for Mutare West, Cde Nyasha Marange and Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Honourable Tino Machakaire

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Passover ceremony roars to live
Johane Marange Apostolic Church leader St Nimrod leads the church in song to mark the beginning of the Passover service.

He will preside over the church sacrament, where each and every member of the church in attendance is will have a chance to eat the Holy Communion

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President Mnangagwa address Passover gathering
President Mnangagwa takes to the podium to address the thousands of worshippers gathered for the Johane Marange Apostolic Church annual Passover gathering at the St Noah Shrine in Mafararikwa.
His address follows completion of the Sabbath service.

The President applauds the strong relationship between the church and Government, as the former also plays an important part in nation building and development.

President Mnangagwa says the peace that is always prevailing in the country is a catalyst for the harmony that always exists in Zimbabwe

He reiterates Government’s commitment to economic development and social transformation anchored on sustainable stability

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‘Church’s voice echoes through Vision 2030’

President Mnangagwa has challenged the church to make its voice heard as the nation marches towards Vision 2030 to attain an empowered and prosperous upper-middle income society.
“The church is the light of the country,” he said.
The President commends Johane Marange Apostolic Church for its massive investment in empowerment and development.

He says ZANU PF will continue to promote access to better economic opportunities for everyone.
The President also urges the nation to prepare adequately for the possible El Niño-induced drought next season, saying farmers should prioritise traditional grains instead of maize.
He assures the nation that no-one will starve to death under his leadership.
President Mnangagwa further calls on the church to continue preaching peace, love and moral values — attributes he said make the country governable and prosperous