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Lawrence Chitumba Review Writer
During the last few years the area behind the Harare Exhibition Centre has slowly been transforming into a built up area. To be precise the area has turned into a worship centre as several churches are putting massive structures.
A visit by The Herald Review to the area and talks with the people around revealed that some of the big and long established churches in the country are heavily investing in mega buildings which will among other things house church halls, church offices, pastors’ houses, academies, church headquarters.
While other church premises have construction activities taking place at their premises, there is little movement at Christ Embassy and Faith World Ministries.
There are large buildings which appear almost complete with a few other smaller buildings in sight probably used as church offices.
An impressive structure is going up at Zion Christian Church owned premises as a multi-storey building takes shape.
From outside it looks a bit more complicated than an ordinary church auditorium and the officials from the denomination confirmed this.
“We are constructing an academy at our stand which is behind the show grounds which will house form one to form six classes. We will call it Samuel Academy after the founder of the church Samuel Mutendi,” said ZCC secretary for education Mr Muringani.
Well known for its famous band ZCC Mbungo, according to the official website zccmbungo.org the church was founded in Pretoria in 1925 by Zimbabwean Samuel Mutendi and his friend Enginas Lekganyane.
The church has long been involved in providing basic education and the website says that between 1984 and 2001 it constructed 11 schools.
From 2006 to 2011 the church constructed the much talked about “House of God” in Mbungo, Masvingo.
This remains one of the most impressive completed church structures in the country.
Another long established church Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA) is also making developments on their piece of real estate in what appears to be a prime area for churches.
Founded in 1960 by Apostle Ezekiel Guti, ZAOGA already has a modern headquarters in Waterfalls. It also has a medical facility in the same suburb and a university in Bindura.
A church official said the new building will house a church hall and some offices some of which would be used for counselling purposes.
There is also another building being used as an academy on the premise which is already complete. The officials at the church said they had decided to build a multi-storey building to compensate for the meagre space available at the site.
“You know we could have an overspill like what you find at other churches but because of the limited space we have no option but to build a multi-storey building to compensate for that because our congregation is growing by the day,” said the official.
Faith in God Ministry leader Pastor Herbert Fate said his church has had to go back to the growing board to comply with official directives and this has delayed progress but they are still on track.
“We intended to construct a four story building which would consist of some offices and an auditorium with capacity to accommodate about 2 500 congregants. However the people at the council indicated that they would not allow a building that high in that area which is going to force us to redesign our building,” said pastor Fate.
Construction is still at its infancy at Ambassadors of Christ Ministries with the leader from the church, Pastor Chipamuriwo saying that they have plans but at the end of the day it is all in God’s hands.
“We intend to construct a church and some offices but you never know what God has in store for us with time we might come up with other plans, in the bible we have churches being built over a period of forty or so years,” said Pastor Chipamuriwo.
At the Glad Tidings City Fellowship site is another massive project – an incomplete multi-storey building is visible, however this publication could not get in touch with the officials from the church to get details of the construction project.
Recently Harare City Council communications principal officer Mr Michael Chideme announced that the council was ready to descend on home owners who have converted their premises into churches in contravention of stipulated by-laws.
The decision follows the sprouting of miracle inspired churches that are led by young prophets and pastors who have since invaded residential areas and make use of high powered public address systems that have become a nuisance to other residents.
Mr Chideme said residents should work with council to end this annoyance.
“Residents are free to approach our offices, notifying us on what is happening in their residential areas, for example if there are worshippers disturbing their peace,”Mr Chideme said.
“We have no problem with people worshipping at designated places that is why the council has set aside places only meant for that. Worshippers should know that council has by-laws which should be observed. If people choose to breach these by–laws, council will not hesitate to take decisive action”, warned Mr Chideme.
The Residential Properties by-law (1974 SI 46 1 /74) forbids people to change land use without council approval.
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