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all in the spirit of celebration.
Guests were not outdone and wore swanky outfits.
The area which is usually covered by lush green vegetation was suddenly turned into a blanket of blue and white.
It was as if the sky had fallen to the ground.
Cars and buses lined one end of the estate.
Church members who had graduated in different disciplines over the past years were dressed in their gowns.
They were part of the academic procession which was led by motorbikes accompanying the important man on this day.
The procession was met with pomp and fanfare by guests and church members.
Mother nature did not let people down as the heat wave which hit the country last week sobered.
Rains that fell on the eve resulted in a mild wind, which cooled thousands of guests.
It was an important day for thousands of Zion Christian Church members from all the country’s 10 provinces who gathered at the church’s cathedral along the Masvingo-Bikita Road to celebrate the birthday and graduation of their leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi.
Bishop Mutendi was recently conferred with an honorary Bachelor of Literature Degree by the University of Zimbabwe.
A total of 2 235 students at the UZ also graduated from 10 different faculties.
Cakes were plenty and “everywhere” and could have easily outdone the number of guests.
Over 100 cakes were baked for the occasion.
Tables on which plates with different types of cakes ranging from fruit, chocolate, sponge among others were outside for everyone to enjoy.
Women and men could be seen preparing lunch three-legged pots while soft drinks flowed from all directions.
It was a great day for the ZCC family and close friends who had gathered to celebrate with them.
Speaking at the celebrations, which were also attended by Mbuya Maud Muzenda, the widow of Vice President Simon Muzenda, Bishop Mutendi said he was happy to become a doctor at 72.
“I am glad to be a doctor at 72-years and God has set a table for me, not a table of food like that of David but a table of success. Strangely enough this is not before my enemies, but before my friends.
“Some have helped to set it up, others are prepared to enjoy and rejoice with me,” he said.
He attributed his success to his church, family and friends and urged those at the birthday and graduation celebrations to continue fighting temptations.
Said Bishop Mutendi: “My friends must know the so-called success is my God’s job, my family’s job particularly my church members. They have done it all, I have reaped it alone, we must own it together.”
He narrated the trials and tribulations his father, the late Reverend Samuel Mutendi and founder of ZCC, went through.
“My father went through waters and fires, trials and tribulations which almost finished him before he completed the work.
“To mention but a few of such fires, he was arrested, imprisoned and tortured more times than the records could keep up with. He witnessed the death of 50 children, he was beaten up . . . by colonialists.
“But he built five home missions only to be removed from Marimasimbe,” he said.
Speaker-after-speaker hailed Bishop Mutendi for the work he has done to develop education and promote social cohesion.
Professor Boniface Chivore of the University of Zimbabwe said he admired Dr Mutendi’s passion for educational issues.
“This is the main reason we conferred him with the doctorate. We took into consideration the number of schools he built, community service he took part in and the other work he did in the region.
“The schools have developed more than his name. The name Mutendi has grown more than Nehemiah’s because it is now for many people,” he said.
Professor Chivore said he would hear about Bishop Mutendi, but had never met him.
He said in 1984, the then Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, referred Bishop Mutendi to his office because his schools had not been recognised by the Smith government before independence.
He said upon checking the school’s records, he found out that teachers were not being paid and students not receiving any government grants.
“We had a chat and I told him all would be well. I asked him where he was going and he said to Defe. I asked him to come back again and promised that he would find the papers in order by the time he returned,” said Prof Chivore. He added: “Indeed, he returned and found that everything had been registered.
“Children started getting grants and teachers were paid. This is when I got to know this man.”
He said what he admired most about bishop Mutendi is his passion for education.
This is the main reason the University of Zimbabwe conferred him with the doctorate.
He said President Mugabe has faith in Bishop Mutendi and gave him a farm to build a university
“You built this magnificent cathedral, what stops you from building a university? Prof Chivore asked.
He added: “Today the country’s oldest university has visited ZCC because of this man. Now will the people of Mutendi come to us for education.”
Vice chairperson of the University of Zimbabwe Council Mr Nation Madongorere said they looked at the qualities of Bishop Mutendi when they considered conferring him with the honorary doctorate.
“We always look at the kind of person we want to confer with the honorary doctorate. We look at whether the person is not selfish among other things.
“We found out that Bishop Mutendi touched the lives of many people both in the education sector and spiritually,” he said.
He described Bishop Mutendi as intelligent, courageous and God-fearing.
A family friend Rev Mugoni said he first met Bishop Mutendi at Mushana while they were doing Standard 4.
“I once came here on the invitation of Bishop Mutendi to worship under a tree. He also invited me to celebrate his previous birthdays and we would sit outside, talk and pray.
“I am happy that this man through his wisdom has built such a magnificent church,” he said.
Added Rev Zingoni: “I was touched when the Bishop and his wife visited me and he revealed that he did not have the theological background. I discovered that despite his position, he humbled himself and accepted what he had.
“I shared some books I had with him. I had a master’s degree and thought he would never measure up with me, but he has done it.
“Bishop Mutendi is talented in administration and this huge building bears testimony,” he said.
Former Mutendi High student Ferd Chivave said: “I am one of the students who were at Mutendi High from 2002 to 2005. I am happy to witness his success. I always remember his teachings and to mention a few: ‘Kudenga hakuendi the good nokuti hakuna wakanaka, kudenga hakuendi the bad nokuti havadikwiko asi kuti kunoenda vakakanganirwa. Rugare”.
“I miss the time being at the school.”
Church follower Ngoni Mataruse said he is proud of Bishop Mutendi.
“He was conferred with a Doctorate, this means that paZion pachazara maDoctors and Professors. This is absolutely wonderful,” he said.
The church has close to 300 000 followers in South Africa, over 400 000 in Mozambique, close to 100 000 in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and about 50 000 in Botswana. There are about two million followers in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter