The Sunday Mail
Tendai Rupapa
Senior Reporter
The Apostolic Ejuwel Jekenisheni Church yesterday invited First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa to their Passover conference, where thousands are gathered at the church’s headquarters in Mutare, to congratulate her on her conferment with an honorary PHD degree by an Indian university in recognition of her great philanthropic work.
Dr Mnangagwa was honoured by GD Goenka University as founder and patron of the Angel of Hope Foundation for vigorously spearheading philanthropic work, spreading its outreach to marginalised communities and advocating for their inclusion and integration into mainstream society.
She was also honoured for her sterling and exemplary contribution to the field of women and girl-child upliftment.
Church members from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South-Africa, resplendent in their colourful garments, sang and danced to welcome the First Lady in a first-of-its-kind visit to the church since its founding in 1932.
Members of the Apostolic Ejuwell Jekenisheni church beating their drums, sing and dance during a congratulatory ceremony for First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for the PHD Degree she was awarded in India at their shrine in Mabiya, Mutare yesterday.
They performed their different dancing routines, which included contentor choose, jack froze, raring mashreni and jekenisheni zvirokwazvo.
The conference started on July 1 and ends tomorrow.
Amai Mnangagwa said the election of ZANU PF and President Mnangagwa into power in 2018 had also ushered her into serving the nation behind her husband as the mother of the nation.
She said that was the reason she was at the conference to share ideas and pray to God along with the church as one family.
Her humility left the gathering awestruck when she followed the church’s tradition of removing shoes and went on to sit on the ground with other women while praising and worshipping God.
The church’s leadership led by its High Priest Phillip Changonona was on cloud nine following the First Lady’s visit.
The High Priest said the church invited Amai Mnangagwa to congratulate her and for the benefit of its women and youths after seeing her going around the country with her educative and empowerment projects.
He pleaded with the First Lady to return to their church with her Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba programme, which is pregnant with lessons beneficial to the youth.
Amai Mnangagwa promised to honour the request.
She also said she would initiate income-generating projects for the women in the church and would return soon to train them with her team.
“As a church, we saw it befitting to invite Amai vedu, the First Lady, so that we congratulate her for recently receiving another feather in her cap with the conferment of a Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) degree. We also wanted to pray for her as a church, asking God to give her more strength and wisdom so that she continues with her humanitarian work for the good of the nation. “Tinoti Mwari varopafadze mabasa avo ese avanobata nemaoko avo. Also after seeing her going around the country, teaching mainly women and youths, we wanted her to also impart that wisdom and knowledge to our church members.
“We are happy that she has promised to work with women and youths in this church and initiate projects for them. We are grateful that the First Lady honoured our invitation. Our mother loves everyone; she is not selective, she does not consider where you are from or which church you belong to, she just loves and embraces everyone.
“This church was established in 1932, and we had never been visited by a First Lady, but today our mother, who cooks for our father, the President, is here with us. We feel the warmth and love,” he said.
Before her address, Amai Mnangagwa humbled herself before the gathering that also included traditional chiefs led by Chief Zimunya and asked for permission to engage them on various issues.
She said she was humbled by the invitation and thanked the church for congratulating her, saying she would not relent in doing philanthropic work until she fulfills her vision.
“Today is a big day, izuva rakatsanangurwa naJehova kuti tive pamwechete tichivarumbidza semhuri. We want to thank the Almighty God for bringing his sheep together as we worship together. I would also like to thank the church for inviting me and organising this programme where you congratulated me for my achievement. I also want to thank our traditional chiefs for being part of this programme. This has taught me that church and leadership hungave hutangamiri wemadzimambo or hutangamiri wenyika is inseparable as was seen and prophesied by the founder of this church in 1932; that is why our chiefs are with us today,” she said.
Amai Mnangagwa said she gets so happy when meeting with other women discussing important family issues.
She took time to address social issues affecting communities that include domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and the need for constant health checks.
“Nhasi ana baba nana amai mandibvumidza kuti ndimire pamberi penyu semunhukadzi ndichiti zvakakonzerwa nemi in 2018 when you voted for Zanu PF and President Mnangagwa. Zvakwanisa kuti ndive nemi nhasi ndichiwanawo nguva yekukurukura nemadzimai. I get overjoyed when I meet women because I would have met verudzi rwangu vechidzimai,” she said.
As health ambassador, the First Lady said it was important for people to visit health centres for regular check-ups so as to keep diseases at bay.
Members of the Apostolic Ejuwell Jekenisheni church pray during their passover and congratulatory ceremony for First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for the PHD Degree she was awarded in India. The church was also conducting its passover at shrine in Mabiya, Mutare yesterday.
She said the Covid-19 pandemic was still raging and people must remain vigilant.
She urged communities to continue observing World Health Organisation protocols of masking up, washing hands and observing social distancing.
“As a mother and health ambassador, I encourage you to respect the protocols to remain healthy. Let us also embrace vaccination and take booster shots so that we protect ourselves from this virus,” she said.
Furthermore, the First Lady implored people to embrace traditional foods, saying they were nutritious and healthy.
“We visit hospitals where we are given medicines so that we heal fast. However, let us consume traditional foods so that they combine with the medicines given by health practitioners. That way, we heal faster,” she said.
The mother of the nation bemoaned fights in churches and urged them to remain united and worship God in peace and harmony while praying for the nation.
Dr Mnangagwa spoke candidly against gender-based violence, which she said affected family life and was a bad influence on children.
She said men had a special role to play in ensuring women receive support in looking after and keeping families together.
She also urged women to remain submissive to their husbands and voiced her concern about how young people were being ruined by drugs, saying this affected their education and triggered many social challenges.
“I urge parents to offer guidance to their children to reduce the rampant cases of drug abuse. If you fight every day while children watch, this will affect them mentally and force them to find solace in drugs. When you got married, you vowed that only death would separate you, but this is not the case these days, divorce cases are high. Ndinoda kuona vana baba, ana mai nevana vachigara murunyararo. We are saying no to drug and alcohol abuse. These children are our future leaders let us lead them in the right path.”
Members of the Apostolic Ejuwell Jekenisheni church sing and dance during their passover and congratulatory ceremony for First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for the PHD Degree she was awarded in India at their shrine in Mabiya, Mutare yesterday. Pictures: John Manzongo
Turning to the girls, she urged them to respect their bodies and take their studies seriously and not rush into sexual relationships.
Amai Mnangagwa urged women to embrace hard work, unity and love to spearhead national development.
She spelt out the need for women to pull in one direction and shun the pull-her-down syndrome and gossip, which does not augur well for development and nation-building.
She said she would bring projects for the women in the church so that they become self-sufficient and teach others in their communities.
The First Lady also touched on hygiene and cleanliness in homes.
Wife to the High Priest, Mrs Barbra Changonona, thanked the First Lady for sharing her wisdom with women and youths in their church.
She thanked the First Lady for her programmes and projects, which are not leaving any place and no one behind.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa; Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Nokhuthula Matsikenyeri, represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office Mr Edgars Seenza, attended the event, among other dignitaries.
