THOUSANDS of Mugodhi Apostolic Faith Church (MAFC) members have thronged their 110-year-old leader Aaron Munodawafa’s home area in Gokwe for the annual 10-day fasting and prayer gathering.
The highly-spiritual event began on August 20 and will conclude tomorrow.
Munodawafa became the leader of MAFC following the death of Tadeau Mugodhi in 2019.
The church’s second bishop Tony Sigauke (now late), however, took over the leadership role as Munodawafa’s advanced age could not allow him to oversee the day-to-day running of one of the biggest apostolic sects in the country.
Instead of gathering at the banks of the Save River in Dorowa, Manicaland province, MAFC members resolved to converge at Kamhororo shrine in honour of Munodawafa.
“This is to honour our long-lived bishop. Its history-breaking for a bishop to lead us at 110 years old,” said MAFC’s legal adviser and member Davison Mangoma.
“This annual gathering is being held about 40km from our leader’s homestead. Due to his advanced age and ill-health associated with it, our acting Bishop Phillip Musuva will lead other sect leaders to his home and be with him.”
According to Mangoma, despite being over 100 years old, Munodawafa is conscious of everything that is happening within the church.
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“He is aware of everything transpiring within the congregation and is always praying for the sect. He is always speaking in tongues as a man of God. He is highly-anointed and still doing God’s work. We are blessed as MAFC to have such a leader,” he said.
About 7 000 congregants are gathered in Gokwe for the conference that is also being attended by several school-going children.
MAFC was formed in 1947 following a split from the then Kruger Apostolic Faith Mission, which consisted of members mainly from the white community.
In 1948, a large gathering was held at Chitsunge, Chokore village in Buhera, where Elijah Mugodhi was installed as bishop, hence the name “Mugodhi”.
Born in 1899, Elijah Mugodhi led the congregation from 1949 until the time of his death in 1971.
Following his death, his deputy Chakuwinga took over the reins as the leader.
Chakuwinga was succeeded by his vice known as Chikwenha, who, after his death as well, was succeeded by Mabvuwiwa.
Mabvuwiwa then handed the baton to the late Thadeau Mugodhi, who was the son of the founding bishop, Elijah.
However, before his demise, Thadeau appointed his son, Washington, against the MAFC’s constitution, leading to a split.
