Emmanuel Kafe

ARCHBISHOP Ernest Paul Mamvura Mwazha, the founder of the African Apostolic Church passed away yesterday morning, plunging the country’s religious fraternity into mourning.

He was 107.

When The Herald news crew arrived at the family home at 8 Jefferson Road in Hatfield, Harare, yesterday, church leaders and members were already streaming in, with hundreds expected to gather throughout the day.

Mourners described a sombre yet deeply spiritual atmosphere as preparations for the funeral got underway.

Family spokesperson — who also served as Archbishop Mwazha’s personal doctor — Dr Masimba Mwazha, confirmed the death, saying the nation had lost “a spiritual giant whose impact stretched far beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.”

“A spiritual giant has slept. The Archbishop touched people spiritually and physically from way back, and his influence will remain for generations,” said Dr Mwazha.

He said the family was still coordinating funeral arrangements and awaiting the arrival of relatives from outside the country.

“He was an international figure, so we are waiting for all family members abroad to arrive before finalising burial arrangements,” he said. “Church members from across the world are also expected to attend the funeral.”

Archbishop Mwazha — affectionately known in the church as Mutumwa, meaning angelic messenger — was born on October 25, 1918 at Holy Cross Mission in Chirumanzu.

As an infant, he became seriously ill and was baptised “Paul” by a German Catholic missionary, after which he miraculously recovered — a moment many followers have long viewed as prophetic.

He later trained as a teacher at Howard Institute and worked within the Methodist Church before breaking away in the late 1950s after what he described as a series of spiritual visions.

This led to the founding of the African Apostolic Church, which has since grown into a vast movement with thousands of branches across Africa and millions of congregants worldwide.

Dr Mwazha said part of the Archbishop’s remarkable longevity could be attributed to his disciplined lifestyle.

“He would fast regularly and preferred traditional meals, which we believe contributed to his long life,” he said.

Throughout his ministry, Archbishop Mwazha travelled extensively across the globe, preaching what followers describe as a message of holiness, humility and healing. He fathered 14 children, 10 of whom are still alive. His wife passed away in 2017.

Condolence messages poured in yesterday, with Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana described Archbishop Mwazha’s passing as a monumental loss to the nation.

“It is with a profound sense of both loss and eternal gratitude that we acknowledge the peaceful passing of spiritual father to many, Archbishop Paul Mwazha, today. While our hearts feel the weight of his departure, they are infinitely more filled with the immense glory of a life spectacularly lived in the service of God.”

Mr Mangwana described the clergyman as a pillar of faith and the foundational rock of the African Apostolic Church.

“He was not merely a man; he was a pillar of faith, a beacon of hope, and the foundational rock upon which the African Apostolic Church was built… His life was a testament to the power of faith.”

As the nation reflects on his more than century-long journey, mourners say his passing marks the end of a monumental chapter in Zimbabwe’s spiritual history.

Burial arrangements will be announced in due course.