Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
THE community development projects initiated by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa at the Apostolic Ejuwel Jekenisheni Church’s Mabiya Shrine in Mutare four years ago, are transforming the lives of congregants and surrounding communities, with improved access to electricity, clean water, irrigation, income-generating projects and sanitation breathing new life into the once remote area.
The transformation was celebrated yesterday during the church’s annual Passover Conference, where the First Lady, represented by Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mercy Maruva Dinha, donated 100 food hampers for elderly women, 10 tonnes of wheat — five tonnes for the church and five tonnes for the surrounding community — as well as goats and chicks to strengthen income-generating projects.
Addressing thousands of congregants gathered at the shrine, the First Lady said she was encouraged by the progress made since her first visit to Mabiya in 2022, adding that the church had demonstrated that faith and practical action could work together to uplift communities.
“I am particularly delighted because I am not visiting Mabiya for the first time. Rather, I am returning to a place that has become close to my heart because of the relationship we have built over the years and the journey of transformation that we embarked upon together,” she said.
“When I first visited this shrine in 2022, I met a congregation whose faith was unwavering and whose vision for a better future was inspiring. I also witnessed first-hand some of the challenges confronting both the church and the surrounding community.
“During that visit, we shared a common conviction that prayer and faith should be accompanied by practical action that uplifts people’s lives. Today, I am deeply encouraged to witness the fruits of our collective commitment.”
The First Lady said what was taking place at Mabiya demonstrated that lasting development was possible when Government, churches and communities worked together towards a shared vision.
She said while Government remained committed to improving the lives of Zimbabweans, churches equally had an important role to play in promoting self-reliance, social cohesion and community development.
“Government alone cannot achieve every developmental aspiration of our people. Likewise, churches cannot fulfil every social and economic need on their own.
“However, when Government, churches, traditional leaders, educational institutions, development partners and communities unite around a common purpose, remarkable transformation becomes possible.
“Development is not measured only by the infrastructure we construct. True development is measured by the lives we improve. It is measured by the child who can now study under proper lighting, the mother who no longer walks long distances in search of clean water, the farmer who harvests enough food to feed the family and generate income, and the young people who acquire practical skills and find hope for the future,” she said.
The six projects implemented at the shrine include rural electrification, a solar-powered borehole, an irrigation scheme, a four-hectare church nutrition garden, a goat project and a poultry project.
The First Lady said the rural electrification project had brought electricity to the shrine and nearby schools, while the solar-powered borehole was providing safe drinking water to congregants and surrounding villagers.
The irrigation scheme and four-hectare church farm were now improving food production throughout the year, while the goat and poultry projects, together with the sewing initiative, had created sustainable income-generating opportunities for women and families. She challenged beneficiaries to safeguard the projects and continue embracing climate-smart agriculture so that future generations would continue enjoying their benefits.
“The projects we celebrate today are not merely structures standing on the landscape. They are symbols of hope. They are symbols of partnership. They are symbols of faith translated into action.
“Each electric light tells a story. Each drop of clean water tells a story. Each harvest from the irrigated field tells a story. Each goat and each productive project tells a story of lives being transformed. Above all, they tell the story of a church that chose not only to pray for development, but also to participate actively in bringing that development to life,” she said.
On behalf of the First Lady, Deputy Minister Dinha handed over the food hampers, wheat, goats and chicks to beneficiaries.
Speaking on behalf of the church’s women, Vice Chairperson for Women’s Affairs Mai Angeline Nyangani said the First Lady’s interventions had transformed both the church and neighbouring communities.
“Following her initial visit to Mabiya in 2022, we have witnessed meaningful transformation through the various development initiatives that have been implemented.
“These interventions have brought hope, dignity and improved livelihoods to our church and surrounding communities.
“We appreciate her commitment to the philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind. As women, we have learnt that empowerment is not about creating dependence, but about equipping people to build sustainable livelihoods. We remain committed to projects such as detergent production, poultry, livestock rearing and other initiatives that will improve household incomes,” she said.
Mai Nyangani added that the development projects had changed the lives of congregants beyond expectations and inspired the church to pursue more sustainable initiatives.
“What the First Lady did here is more than charity. It changed how we think and live. Children are now learning under better conditions, people have access to clean water and our women are generating income through these projects.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Beatrice Muhwizva, said receiving a food hamper was a blessing.
“We are happy that the First Lady continues to remember elderly women like us.
“This support has come at the right time and it will go a long way in helping our families. We pray that God continues to bless her,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Alice Chipenzi, said the donations reflected the First Lady’s compassion for vulnerable members of society.
“She has always stood with us and encouraged us to become self-reliant. We are grateful for the food hampers and the empowerment projects because they have restored hope and dignity to many families,” she said.
Thousands of congregants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa attended the annual Passover Conference, with church leaders saying the development projects had become a model of how faith-based organisations could complement Government efforts in improving livelihoods and accelerating rural transformation.
