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Francis Mupazviriho Correspondent
The sky was dark, signifying the inevitable rains. On this day, the chilly morning which appeared to neutralise the raging heat of the previous day was suddenly overshadowed by the sprinkling showers, which signalled the start of a wet day.
The rains enveloped the expansive Mbungo Estates sitting on 1 200 hectares of land, part of which houses the impressive Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Mbungo headquarters in Masvingo, which is built on a mountain top.
Biblically, mountains are laden with strong spiritual meanings.
This is where Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai and the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (Matthew 17 vs 1-13) also occurred on a mountain top, among other examples.
Similarly, the ZCC Mbungo headquarters, which is christened the “City of Peace”, provides the perfect religious setting where mortals conversate with their maker.
Simply, a pilgrimage!
This explains Government’s befitting honour which accorded the church a religious tourism site in 2011.
Here, numerous stories about the power of the Holy Spirit are recounted by those who have witnessed the manifestation of divine authority.
Beyond matters of spirituality, the ZCC Mbungo headquarters located along the Mutare-Masvingo Highway, is also renowned for its two-storey citadel with a carrying capacity of more than 20 000.
Emblazoned with a green top which represents regeneration and white walls, the ZCC Mbungo headquarters is also famed for its architectural might, entrenched in a gated zone, whose front bears two gigantic replica towers of the Great Zimbabwe National Monument.
Zimbabwe derives its name, “House of Stone” from the ancient National Monument and World Heritage site in Masvingo province.
Surely, the conical towers which portray the towering stature of the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, mirror the ZCC Mbungo’s outlook as one of the oldest and notable African Independent Churches (AIC) in Zimbabwe.
Behold, the Community Archives!
On the great day, the gushing rains provided the much-needed ambience to the launch of the ZCC Mbungo Community Archive project.
The idea to establish a Community Archive at this holy place was conceived at the 2018 International Archives Commemoration Day.
The National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ), which is a department under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage responsible for preserving documentary heritage successfully completed the ZCC Mbungo Community Achieves Project, which was under the Ministry’s 100 Day Cycle.
After months of elaborate planning, two-way engagements and on-site visits necessitated by the need to implement this ground-breaking partnership, the launch finally provided a gestation to an important aspect to the church’s history.
Present at this auspicious occasion were the guest of honour and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Mike Madiro, Bishop of ZCC, Nehemiah Mutendi, Minister in Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s Office, Davis Mharapira, the Provincial Development Coordinator, Jefter Sakupwanya, NAZ Deputy Directors, Brenda Mamvura and Danmore Maboreke, among a list of delegates.
Prior to the official launch, Deputy Minister Madiro, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi and other senior officials toured the library, bearing books and novel photographs of the church’s history from the time of its founder — Bishop Samuel Mutendi up to the mantle Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi, who has been at the helm since 1977.
The contrast of the black and white pictures from the time Dr Mutendi started his mission in 1977 to the increasing number of colour pictures, depicts an important succession journey carved at one of the country’s leading AIC’s. To officially commence the programme, the famed ZCC brass band played the National Anthem, underlining the interaction and partnership between the church and the State.
Addressing guests who had gathered for the launch, the Deputy Minister Madiro chronicled the importance of the community archive in terms of the church’s history.
“The ZCC Mbungo Community Archive captures the rich history of the rise of African independent churches, which is embedded in the church’s various manuscripts, Tabakoni series, photographs, evangelical reports, personal diaries, audio-visual material, minutes, orders, and historical notes among others,” he said.
The Tabakoni series is a collection of transcribed sermons by Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi. This collection is regarded with reverence by the ZCC community as it is regarded as the direct word from God with Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi as the mouthpiece. The Tabakoni collection covered the period from 1989-2000.
Said Deputy Minister Madiro: “African independent churches played a crucial role during the war of liberation and this history has to be accurately captured for future generations. Certainly, this unique collection which forms part of our national history needs to be jealously guarded. On this note, let me take the opportunity to urge other churches to take a cue from this positive stride.”
Between October and November, the joint teams from the church and the NAZ established a workplan, which set the course for knowledge transfer by training ZCC Mbungo officers on records, archives and information management. It also covered aspects such as archival acquisition, collections preservation, archival arrangement and description, archival preservation and shelving among other objectives.
Already, the NAZ had previously implemented two similar initiatives at Arcturus High School and Harare Girls High, having their own compelling stories of historical value.
Perhaps, one thing rings true.
While there have been rapid changes over the years, the church’s gospel has remained intact, as shown by the archives on site.
Records manager Moyondizvo Stephen Mutendi, an elder at the church and former Government employee at the Records Sections of the Ministries of Health and Child Care and later on, the former Political Affairs Ministry between 1981 and 1997, whose experience in record keeping in government proved handy for the project, underscored the importance of preserving information at the church.
“Our mission statement as a church is Take Zion to the world. Our archives office should be open to the people because most of the material deposited there is the word of God,” he said.
Beyond archiving materials from the past, the church has also embraced the contemporary platforms of communication, as seen by its availability on YouTube, where Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi’s sermons are regularly broadcast to his followers.
NAZ has a reason to smile, considering the church’s continuing inroads towards preserving information about the journey which it has travelled over the years.
According to Ms Mamvura, the project sought to enhance access to information.
“The National Archives of Zimbabwe saw the need to decentralise access to information through the development of community archives and also encourage communities to acquire, preserve and provide access to information remotely and encourage a culture of preservation of records,” she said.
“We were getting a number of enquiries from researchers, scholars and learners about African Independent Churches in general and the ZCC in particular. The gaps prompted us to consider building a Community Archives Project at ZCC Mbungo.”
The success of the ZCC Mbungo project and the two previous ones, has given NAZ the determination to launch similar initiatives in the remaining seven provinces countrywide.
As the rituals of speeches, as well as exchange of gifts had been done to showcase the successful partnership between the NAZ and the ZCC, it was time, for the church’s Brass Band to give its befitting parting shot for the event.
“Ndire, Ndire, Ndire, Ndire”, the trumpets bellowed, the church’s signature hymn.
To the ZCC Mbungo, this is a liturgical hymn which founder Bishop Samuel Mutendi sang, as he traversed the land during his spiritual expedition, decades back!
Meanwhile, the heavy downpour continued, signifying the heavenly blessings to a country whose economy is largely dependent on agriculture.
However, the gushing rains made the auditorium slippery but this did not deter the Brass Band members who put a splendid performance, capping the historic launch.
As the song reached its tipping point, so did the Brass Band members who reciprocated with much gusto as they followed their paces aerially and on the ground in rhythmic fashion.
Women followed suit, dancing energetically, yet exuding feminine decorum.
In the end, the third Community Archives project was launched at ZCC Mbungo, having its rich tapestry of history preserved.
Francis Mupazviriho is the Communications and Advocacy Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.
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