Tribal chief from Africa headquarters in Marion
When Marion/Lincolnville United Methodist clergyman Pastor Kennedy Mukwindidza re-visited his native land, Zimbabwe, in July he had no idea what it would produce.
The result is a planned trip to the United States by Mambo (Chief) Zimunyua. The chief's given name is Eddison Zororai Musabayana.
The visit in July also produced a unique new partnership between Kansas United Methodists and the chief of the Mutare District of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe.
Pastor Kennedy Mukwindidza and three others from Kansas are working on the project with Mambo Zimunya. They are part of the Campassionate Consultation Initiate Project (CCIP) in Zimbabwe.
The team going to Africa consisted of Mukwindidza, 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.
They also were privileged for the opportunity to meet with the chief of the district, Mambo Zimunya.
Little did they realize, earlier, that he would be coming to Kansas.
Zimbabwe 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. Needs are immense, Pastor Kennedy relates.
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 held from Mambo Zimunya's poverty stricken people."
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 that only God holds the future.
Mambo (Chief) Zimunya will arrive in Kansas May 17 and make Marion his home-headquarters.
On May 18 he will conduct morning services at Arkansas City.
May 21 will find him at Southwestern University and that evening at Winfield UMC.
His full schedule will be printed later, it takes him across Kansas to Wichita, Salina, Newton, Kansas City, Leawood, Topeka, Kechi, Neodesha, Council Grove, Pittsburg, Lincolnville, Council Grove, Marion, Baldwin, and many other communities.
The tribal chief's authority covers a geographical area. Born Jan. 6, 1938, in a village of the district.
He was raised and brought up as an African child, taught the traditions and customs.
At the age of nine he entered an elementary school operated by the Methodist Episcopal 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 these years he and other students were active in Christian movements.
In 1959 he moved to Harare bo become finance clerk on the city council. In 1961 he moved to Masvingo as clerk.
In 1968 he entered local government administrate and in 1975 was appointed township superintendent.
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 in now close to retirement but continues to work as township superintendent.
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 has demonstrated a passion for the worship of God. While he exercises his 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."
With Photo
Chief Mambo Zimunya
