TellZim Reporter
Hate him or like him, Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Jonas Zvobgo made history when he was ordained the second bishop of the African Reformed Church at Shonganiso Mission on Saturday last week.
Professor Zvobgo is the first and only Vice Chancellor in Zimbabwe to be ordained bishop of a church.
The colourful event was witnessed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa who praised Prof Zvobgo for defying odds and answer to the calling of becoming a religious leader despite holding a very senior government position.
President Mnangagwa urged Prof Zvobgo to lead by example making sure that he grows the church which was started by his father in 1956.
“My advice to you is that you must not lead alone. Find deacons and other righteous man that will help you to lead and grow this church. We know you are an able leader; we are proud of you in government and we expect you to continue with that leadership style,” said Mnangagwa.
Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi and leader of the Worldwide Family of God Church Prophet Andrew Wutawunashe who were leading the installation and ordination process thanked Professor Zvobgo for accepting to lead the church which was founded by his father.
Both Bishop Mutendi and Prophet Wutawunashe shared emotional speeches as they chronicled how Africans were victimised for starting their own churches during the colonial period.
Speaking to a local radio station in Masvingo just before his ordination, Prof Zvobgo revealed that it all started 32 years ago when his late father Jonas Mudadigwa Zvobgo asked him to be his successor.
“It took me over 30 years to come to this decision. My father wanted me to be his successor and he would sometimes send people to my work place to plead with me to accept being a bishop but I could not accept because I was not ready then.
“Everything has a time…this is the right time for me to become a bishop,” said Prof Zvobgo.
On how he was going to balance between university work and Church leadership demands, Prof Zvobgo was very clear that there was not going to be any conflict of interest as his new role complemented his work in government.
“There is no conflict at all, in fact, my new role will complement my duties in government. We must continue to help the young ones so that they fear God and know how to do good,” he added.
While accepting his new role at Shonganiso, Prof Zvobgo told hundreds of people that he was going to make sure that his church complements government vision in terms of production.
“I will be working with you as bishop but I will also take some of the things that we do in government such as implementation of Education 5.0 and make sure you all understand what it means. I will personally make sure we complement government efforts in production…we must not just wait to be spoon fed. No. We have to work,” said Prof Zvobgo.
President Mnangagwa also took that opportunity to urge the church to preach peace. He said his government was not going to tolerate any forms of violence.
“Let us preach peace all the time. If you see someone coming to your home and you suspect that they are not peace lovers, please show them exit door so that they must never be with you for a moment. We want peace,” said Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa also donated an ambulance to Shonganiso Clinic at the same event.
