PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is today expected to grace 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
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

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

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.




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



