African tribal chief to headquarter in Marion
Leader from Zimbabwe
will arrive Saturday; Marion is first stop on U.S. visit
Chief Mambo Zimunya of Zimbabwe will visit the United States this summer, coming to Kansas for an extended stay, beginning Saturday, during which time he will make his headquarters in Marion.
It's the result of a visit to his native land in Africa by Marion/Lincolnville United Methodist clergyman Kennedy Mukwindidza. He rev-visited Zimbabwe in July but had no idea at that time what the trip would produce.
The result became a planned trip to the United States of Mambo (Chief) Zimunya. The chief's given name is Eddison Zororai Musabayana.
A partnership was developed between Kansas United Methodists and the chief of Mutare District of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, Africa.
Pastor Kennedy (as he prefers to be called) and three others from Kansas developed the project with Chief Zimunya. They are part of the Compassionate Consultation Initiate Project (CCIP) in Zimbabwe.
The team which went to Africa consisted of Pastor Kennedy, Mary Ocker of Kechi UMC, and Scott and Chris Hannon of Neodesha UMC.
Team members worked, lived, and worshipped with Christians of the Mutare District.
They distributed medical supplies at rural health centers.
Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, is in southern Africa. Formerly a British protectorate, it declared itself an independent nation in 1965, but independence was not formally granted by Great Britain until 1980.
It is a nation in need. To say it is "troubled" is an understatement. Poverty is prevalent. The majority of the population lives on less than one dollar a day. Life expectancy is less than 50 years, in part due to political conflict. There is state-sponsored violence, corruption, and AIDS is endemic, Pastor Kennedy related.
The farming economy has been destroyed by violent land reform programs of the government.
More than 500,000 workers are unemployed and more than 3,000 white farmers have been forced off the land they owned — without compensation.
Pastor Kennedy grew up there and knows of which he speaks. "For the past 20 years the government has turned a deaf ear to cries of help from Mambo Zimunya's poverty stricken people," he said.
He blames violence, political conflict, and mismanagement.
Zimunya believes education is one of the major keys needed to win the war against poverty in Africa.
Seeing what the team did for health in the rural areas he said he believes hope lies in the church and only God holds the future.
Sunday will find him conducting morning services at Arkansas City's First United Methodist Church.
On Monday he will be at Southwestern College in Winfield and that evening at Winfield UMC.
His full schedule will take him across Kansas to Wichita, Augusta, Salina, Newton, Kansas City, Leawood, Topeka, Kechi, El Dorado, Neodesha, Pittsburg, Lincolnville, Council Grove, Baldwin, Marion, and many other communities.
The tribal chief's authority covers a large geographical area in Zimbabwe, with a population of more than 80,000 people but only 45 elementary schools, 11 high schools, 12 health centers, and no recreational facilities at all for youth, children, or adults.
He was born Jan. 6, 1938, in a village of the district where he was raised and brought up as a typical African child, taught the traditions and customs.
At the age of nine he entered an elementary school operated by the Methodist Episcopal Church (now the United Methodist Church). After six years he graduated with the highest grade possible. In 1953 he moved to Mutambara Mission as a boarder and began studying in the higher grades. During those years he and other students were active in Christian movements.
In 1959 he moved to Harare (the capital) to become a finance clerk on the city council. In 1961 he moved to Masvingo as a clerk. In 1968 he entered local government administration and was appointed township superintendent in 1975. This was during the height of the War of Liberation in Zimbabwe. He worked as superintendent until 1984, four years after independence.
In 1984 he was transferred to Zimunya Township in his home area where he continues to work as a township superintendent, though he is close to retirement.
In 1990 his brother died, while chief, after only a year in office. He was appointed to act as chief in his brother's place.
As acting chief he demonstrated a passion for the worship of God. While he exercises the traditional role as an African chief, he also enjoys the encompassing presence of God.
He has donated large tracts of land to support CCIP, always generous and willing to advance the role of Christianity in his area.
"This is a milestone in the history of the church in Zimbabwe," Pastor Kennedy Mukwindidza said. "Never before has any traditional leader turned to the church for a partnership of this kind."
