
North-West Zimbabwe Conference's headquarters, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. From the conference's photo collection.
North-West Zimbabwe Conference
By Tarisai Chikomo
Tarisai Chikomo, B.A. in Theology (Solusi University, Zimbabwe), M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies (New Testament) (Adventist University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya), currently serves as Youth and Education director for the North-West Zimbabwe Conference. Pastor Chikomo has served the Adventist church for fifteen years as district pastor, conference executive secretary, and union Stewardship director.
First Published: November 4, 2024
North-West Zimbabwe Conference is an affiliate church administrative unit of the Zimbabwe Central Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Current Territory and Statistics
The territory of the North-West Zimbabwe Conference consists of a portion of the Midlands Province, a portion of the Mashonaland West Province, and a portion of the Matabeleland North Province bounded by a line following roads, rivers, and the railway line, as drawn on a map of Zimbabwe, annexed hereto, from Chiwundura and Mvuma east of Kwekwe, Nkayi, Dakamela, Lusulu and Binga and bounded on the east by a line drawn on the map of Zimbabwe, from Kariba to but excluding Chegutu, to Mubaira Growth Point, 23 kilometers between Mhondoro and Chivhu, 534 kilometers between Gweru and Siabuwa 201 kilometers between Kadoma and Siakobvu, on the border of Zambia.1 Zimbabwe has 16 official languages and predominant in the North-West Zimbabwe Conference are Shona, Ndebele, Tonga and also English which is the primary business language.2
When it was organized in 2015, the North-West Zimbabwe Conference had 21 multi-church districts, 518 churches, and 257 companies.3 At the end of June 2015, it had a membership of 127,609 and the territory had a population of 2,776,640.4 The North-West Zimbabwe Conference had one operational clinic and 11 schools (7 primary and 4 secondary schools). The number of pastors was 26, comprised of 17 credentialed and 9 licensed ministers.5
As of June 30, 2022, membership was 81,953 and the general population 2,587,440. On December 31, 2023, the official membership of North-West Zimbabwe Conference was 58,751.6 There are 620 churches and 132 companies. At the end of September 2021, a division-wide membership audit exercise resulted in some statistical adjustments that contributed to the drop in membership from 164,490 in September 2021 to 78,523 in December 2021.7 Further adjustments in the first quarter of 2023 contributed to the decline bringing the membership to 59,432.8 The North-West Zimbabwe Conference currently has 19 ordained and 12 licensed pastors and 9 office workers.9
Origins of the Adventist Work in the Territory
The Adventist work in the North-West Zimbabwe Conference shares the same history with the Central Zimbabwe Conference. The 1901 journey to open the Lower Gwelo mission by F. B. Armitage and his team saw the work spreading into the Midlands region, part of which is the North-West Zimbabwe Conference. Most of those who came for education in the mission schools would become church members and evangelists, and upon completion of their studies, they would go on to make more converts and plant churches. Lower Gwelo Mission became the springboard for the evangelization of the Midlands area.10 The influence of Lower Gwelo and Hanke missions can safely be associated with the opening of several schools and churches in the region, ultimately resulting in a concentration of Adventism in the region then known as the Rhodesdale estates.11
The white-dominated Rhodesian government formulated legislation in 1949, which it used to facilitate the eviction of Africans from the Rhodesdale area.12 Sanyati and the neighboring Gokwe in the Midlands Province were the major destinations for the evicted “Rhodesdalites” from 1950 onwards.13 Since the Adventist church had a significant presence and influence in the Rhodesdale area, the Adventist presence in the North-West Zimbabwe Conference can be primarily attributed to these movements.
Much of the evangelistic work was accomplished through two main approaches, namely schools and the zunde evangelism initiative. The zunde initiative follows the African or particularly a Zimbabwean traditional practice of gathering for some work, especially in the fields, helping one community member at a time. Banking on numbers, the community moves from one member to another, helping them with harvesting or plowing. This cooperative approach was adopted into evangelism. An unentered area is identified, and members are mobilized from far and near to come and preach and witness.
Historically, the zunde concept can be seen as a more recent development, pioneered by Elder Micah Maponga, Pastor Tobias Tunhira, and others in the southern parts of the old Central Zimbabwe Conference. Yet, according to the retired Pastors Micah Moyo and Seclas Mema, the concept was employed in the region way before it was given the ‘zunde’ name.14 It was mainly the church lay members’ efforts that formed the foundations of the church work in the Gokwe and Sanyati areas and beyond. According to Pastor Micah Moyo, who has worked for 40 years in the church since 1976 and is now retired, several factors influenced the evangelization of Gokwe North and Gokwe South districts.15 Pastor Moyo, who also had a chance to work with Elder Brown Ncube, recalls that long before there was a pastor assigned in those areas, the lay people did the work of evangelism and church planting.
Kadoma, Mhondoro Ngezi
It is from this area that Adventism spilled into Mhondoro Ngezi. A pioneer named P. Fairchild came in 1939 to set up Mandora Mission School. By 1943, the school was fully established and many children of the workers in the neighboring white-owned farms came to Mandora for their education.16 Few other Adventists had moved from Lower Gwelo to settle in the same area. The first students at Mandora Mission School became the first Adventist members in the area and included Muchechesi Stephen of Muzvezve, Jessie Rugube of Mandora, John Nhokwara of Mandora, Mbasera granny of Denya, and Musemesi of Gasanyama. Churches gradually increased in the area.17 As Adventists joined in the rural-to-urban migration, some from this place migrated to Kadoma for further education and employment opportunities, thereby contributing to the entry and growth of the church in Kadoma town.
Chiwundura
From Rhodesdale estates also, through the efforts of Harry Sibagobe and Register Ndlovu,18 Adventism spilled to the Chiwundura area in 1924 when they sought and obtained permission from the chiefs to hold evangelistic campaigns and to start a church and a school. This led to the establishment of Gunde school, named after one of the church members. The school became a center of Adventism in the communities around and even in the nearby Kwekwe town and farms. Sibagobe became the area’s pastor, and he went on to open churches in several places around Kwekwe.19 Gunde Secondary was later established after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1981.20 Today, Gunde Primary and High schools are still formidable hubs of Adventist Education in the region.
Kwekwe Zhombe
Kwekwe saw a growth of Adventism due to high rural to urban migration of people seeking job opportunities in the town. Many mining activities in this town attracted many young people, including Adventists who had begun their fellowship in the old suburb of Amaveni. Remarkable growth occurred, especially after 1980, with more churches opening in Mbizo, Torwood and Redcliff.21 Companies were quickly organized into churches and now Kwekwe and Redcliff towns have over 50 churches. The beginnings of work around these areas can be associated with Pastor Sibagobe Tshuma and others. Also associated with the work in Zhombe was Mr. Njikigwa, who later moved to the Gokwe Njelele area of Bomba. The Silwangani Ncube family arrived in Gokwe from Maliyami in 1950 and established Somalala 2 Church after its sister church in Zhombe, where part of the family was resettled. The most prominent evangelists who spearheaded the spread of Adventism and the establishment of Somalala 2 Church in the area were Fusi Silwangani Ncube, Philemon Mnkandla, and Samuel Ncube.22
Zhombe, Silobela, and Nesigwe
The spread of Adventism to the Silobela and Nesigwe areas can be attributed to their proximity to the Lower Gwelo Mission. Evangelistic campaigns were held from the Lower Gwelo area, and these outreach activities attracted many to Adventism. The first Adventists in Silobela included the Adventists who came from Lower Gwelo with the Malagani Ncube family and very much involved in making the Adventist presence felt in the Silobela area. These first Adventists included Masinda Moyo, Aaron Pambana, Thakaza Sibanda, and Makatsha Ncube. The establishment of Khanye Adventist Primary school in 1941 turned the area into an Adventist stronghold. These helped establish Donsa Adventist Primary School, which was key in the spreading the gospel to the Nesigwe area. Prominent people in the spread of Adventist those years were Elder Mtshangana Sibanda, Elder Fuzane, and Malaba (possibly a pastor).23
Gokwe, Sanyati, Siabuwa
These areas were not wholly uninhabited before the relocation of people from Rhodesdale, though most of the regions were vast, thick forests that were once taken as game reserves. It had some pockets of Tonga and Shona-Karanga inhabitants derogatorily were termed Shangwe by the “incomers.”24 To a greater extent, the relocation of people from Rhodesdale to Sanyati and Gokwe areas brought Adventism to these places.
As the population exploded in these new settlements, vast unentered areas needed the gospel. The Adventists from Rhodesdale worked hard to evangelize these places and see Adventism find roots in the Gokwe’s South and North regions. Mashiri Nemadziva, also known as Brown Ncube, was among the prominent lay-evangelists that worked tirelessly to spread Adventism around the areas of Mutimutema, Siabuwa, and Chireya.25 The establishment of churches in Sanyati and beyond progressed with the assistance of Mr. Maphosa Rutanhira, and around Nembudziya in Gokwe North there were individuals like Elder Svosve who had also moved from Gutu. The work into the interior of Siabuwa towards the Zambezi River spread much later through the efforts of Global Pioneers like Pastor Gwafa Dube and the Tshuma brothers.26
Most Adventists who settled in these areas were beneficiaries of the Lower Gwelo mission and the Hanke mission education. They influenced the opening of schools in their new settlements and the church administration supported them because there was a great need for schools. Mr Njikigwa, came from the Zhombe area (but originally from Rhodesdale) and evangelized around Bomba and Njelele areas, leading to the establishment of Zhombe Primary School in 1949.27 Gadza school was opened in Kana area of Gokwe South in 1952 through the efforts of the Elders Benjamin Zvemhere and Robson Manyere. The other schools opened in the Gokwe area were Mtanke in 1954 and Sayi in 1964. Mateme Primary School started as a Baptist school in 1952 and became Adventist in 1953 when the predominantly Adventist community protested Baptist church doctrines at the school. Other schools like Manyoni, Magedhe, Bova, Khanye, and Donsa were established around those years. Through these schools, Adventism spread quickly and widely. Churches were planted mainly by lay-preachers and pastors were later sent into these places. Vincent Ncube was the first pastor to be sent to this place in 1949. He was followed by S. Mema in 1960.28
The territory and the churches were significantly affected during the country’s liberation war. Church growth slowed down because Adventism was viewed as a white man’s establishment.29 A general suspicion against the church grew amongst the people, thereby restricting the conversion of many potential interests. However, the work done thus far had created devout Adventists who remained faithful to the cause even during these difficult times. After Zimbabwe’s independence from colonial rule in 1980, the church in the North-West Zimbabwe territory enjoyed steady growth and new churches were organized. However, the Adventist schools in Sayi, Manyoni, Mtanke, Bova, and Donsa were taken by the communities and separated them from the Adventist church. Apparently, these communities felt that independence included freeing institutions from missionary ownership. The schools continue to be under local council authorities. Once Adventist strongholds because of Adventist education, these regions have gradually lost that status.
Another challenge in the now North-West Zimbabwe territory was the vast geographical size of the multi-church districts with poor road networks. One pastor was responsible for an area stretching over 100 kilometers.30 In 2010, it became clear that the Central Zimbabwe Conference needed to be split into two entities to accommodate the growing church’s need. It had become increasingly difficult to oversee the work in the vast territory with the growing number of workers. The operational costs of the conference significantly increased. The realignment of the conference finally occurred in 2015 under the leadership of Pastors S. Mema and Josam H. Manyakara, giving birth to the North-West Zimbabwe Conference with Pastor E. Tapera as its first president.31
Organizational History of the NWZC
The territory of the original Central Zimbabwe Conference consisted of the Masvingo and Midlands Provinces with portions of the Matabeleland South Province in the south and Matabeleland North and Mashonaland West Provinces in the north.32
There are several reasons why the church leaders saw it necessary to divide the conference. Firstly, the growing church needed effective management.33 In 2010, church membership was 222,917 in 540 churches and 958 companies. Increasing the number of new members necessitated more efforts for member retention and nurturing. This was not easy to manage in a vast territory. Also, for effective supervision and individualized assistance to workers, it was seen as necessary to work with a smaller workforce for enhanced performance. By 2010, the conference had 79 workers: 23 office workers, 21 licensed pastors, and 35 ordained pastors.34 Managing the Central Zimbabwe Conference territory from one administrative office resulted in more time spent in travelling than in doing the work. From the conference office, the furthest churches in the north were over 530 kilometers away and almost the same distance in the south. Realignment was meant to reduce these distances for closer monitoring of the work.
Considering these factors, on June 14, 2010, the Central Zimbabwe Conference executive committee recommended to the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division to approve a realignment of the Central Zimbabwe Conference into two entities. In December 2014, the request was approved to split the Central Zimbabwe Conference into two entities: 1) the North-West Zimbabwe Conference with headquarters in the city of Kwekwe and 2) the Central Zimbabwe Conference, which inherited the old conference’s headquarters at 924 Corner 7th Street, Windsor Avenue, Windsor Park, Gweru.
One of the debatable areas around the realignment exercise was the demarcation border for the two conferences. Some advocated for splitting of the city of Gweru between the two conferences, while others supported the exclusion of Gweru from the North-West Zimbabwe Conference.35 Resultantly, Gweru was excluded from the North-West Zimbabwe Conference. Kwekwe, Kadoma, and Gokwe were the conference’s main urban centers. According to Pastor E. Tapera, who was the last Central Zimbabwe Conference’s president and the first North-West Zimbabwe Conference’s president, the border lines were mainly informed by the anticipated impact on the mission outreach rather than financial gains.36 The initial officers of the North-West Zimbabwe Conference were Etwell Tapera (president), Tobias Mavela (executive secretary), and Bridget Sithole (chief financial officer), and they were joined by five departmental directors.37
The North-West Zimbabwe Conference recorded a numerical growth in membership each successive year because of intensive evangelism within the territory. By the end of 2015, membership had grown to 131,737. There was also a 6.73 percent growth in 2016 closing at 140,605 and a 4.44 percent growth in 2017, closing at 155,113. Close monitoring of the work was the advantage for the conference administrators. In the institutions, Gunde High School began the path to becoming the first boarding school in the conference. The other four secondary schools are: Ntivule, Mashame, Mateme, and Mamvuramachena. The conference now runs the following primary schools: Mateme, Gadza, Manyuli, Zhombe, Gaika, Kanye, Pohwe, Gunde, and Mandora. In addition to the one clinic in Mateme, the conference plans to establish clinics in Chirisa, Sinampande, and Nyamhara.
The NWZC is mainly agro-based territory, and most of the people in the territory depend on farming. At the time of the realignment, the greater parts of the Gokwe and the Sanyati regions produced commercially. With time, the crop’s market value dropped, resulting in a decline in the region’s general economy. The consequences were also felt within the church as income was significantly affected by the members’ tithes and offerings. Many farmers abandoned the crop and turned to other lines of work that are relatively lower in income. Also, the phenomenon of climate change has not spared the region. The changes in rainfall patterns and droughts often challenge the strategies of the church. The country’s general economy has encountered challenges over the years, and these have also impacted the church’s mission. Despite all the challenges, the conference has managed to execute its mandate fairly.
In evangelism, the traditional zunde approach continues to be the winning strategy. This method, which blends preaching, witnessing, and various community impact projects such as building churches, clinics, schools, and giving out donations, allows the conference to continue evangelizing in unentered areas and setting up new congregations.
One of the conference’s greatest challenges since its inception is its low membership retention rate. In 2021, the conference began a membership audit to verify the actual membership. The results revealed that nearly half of the conference’s membership could not be accounted for. These former members were subsequently removed from the church registers.
The North-West Zimbabwe Conference is affiliated with the Zimbabwe Central Union Conference, whose offices are in the same city, Kwekwe. Its organization as a separate entity has reduced distances, especially for the administrators’ work of monitoring and for pastors traveling to and from the offices. Costs of operations have also been reduced. Church members welcomed this move because it brought the administrative office close to them, and the conference took less time to address the concerns of the churches and workers. Effective strategies for the work are now possible by focusing on a smaller territory. Managing the growing workforce in the original conference was more challenging than in the smaller entity.
Future Outlook
The North-West Zimbabwe Conference is fulfilling its mission through the strategies provided from its higher organizational entities plus its own initiatives. As the church continues to grow, the conference is working on membership retention and nurturing. With increases in the general population, and as settlements and towns emerge and grow within its territory, the conference has identified the need for improved evangelistic approaches. The major challenge to the conference’s progress remains the erratic climatic conditions affecting agricultural activities on which the members’ incomes largely depend.
Regain the schools that once belonged to the Adventist church and are now under the authority of district councils would help the conference’s outreach work.38 To enhance its impact, the conference seeks to employ more pastors and help the existing workers by equipping them with vehicles and effective communication tools and improving their housing.39
Despite the existence of challenges highlighted, the history of the North-West Zimbabwe Conference provides valuable lessons to encourage the present workers and church members. Through the worst financial crises that the country faced, the conference has remained self-sustaining. A collaborative working culture has been developed among the conference workers, sustaining the work thus far. In 2018, the North-West Zimbabwe Conference executive committee voted to pass on to the Southern-Africa Indian Ocean Division the recommendation to realign the conference into two entities, a plan that remain a part of the conference’s outlook.40
List of Presidents
Etwell Tapera (2015-2017); Ebson Mafurorehwa Moyo (2018-2020); Ruwell Maphuzukunotha-Nkonzo (2021-2022); Simbarashe Mhako (2023); Henry Makuvire (2024-present)
Sources
Central Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Gweru, Zimbabwe), “Realignment Preparation Document,” 2014.
Constitution of Zimbabwe, June 20, 2023 (Zimbabwe: Veritas, 18), http://www.veritaszim.net/.
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Office of Archives and Statistics. Annual Statistical Report. Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, various years. https://adventiststatistics.org/stats
Ncube, Linos. “The Republic of Zimbabwe,” Encyclopedia of the Seventh-day Adventists, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/, accessed June 1, 2024.
North-West Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. “Constitution and Bylaws of the North-West Zimbabwe Conference.”
North-West Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Kwekwe, Zimbabwe), “3rd Constituency Meeting Report,” 2023.
North-West Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Kwekwe, Zimbabwe). Minutes of the North-West Zimbabwe Conference Year-end Executive Committee Meetings, December 13, 2018.
“North-West Zimbabwe Conference,” Adventist Statistical and Research Review, 2024 Annual Statistics Report New Series. Vol. 6. Advance Release of membership statistics by Division for 2023.
Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/. Accessed June 20, 2024.
Zimbabwe Union Conference Youth Department. Trailblazers of Adventism. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: Amagugu Publishers, 2019.
Notes
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North-West Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, “Constitution and Bylaws of North-West Zimbabwe Conference,” 2023, article IV.↩
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Constitution of Zimbabwe as amended June 20, 2023 (Zimbabwe: Veritas, 18), http://www.veritaszim.net/.↩
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Seventh-day Adventist Online Yearbook, North-West Zimbabwe Conference,” accessed June 20, 2024.↩
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Ibid.↩
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Central Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Gweru, Zimbabwe), “Realignment Preparation Document,” 2014, 34.↩
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“North-West Zimbabwe Conference,” Adventist Statistical and Research Review, 2024 Annual Statistics report New Series Vol. 6. Advance Release of membership statistics by Division for 2023.↩
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Seventh-day Adventist Online Yearbook, North-West Zimbabwe Conference,” accessed June 20, 2024.↩
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Ibid.↩
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North-West Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Kwekwe, Zimbabwe), “3rd Constituency Meeting Report,” 2023, 24.↩
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Linos Ncube, “The Republic of Zimbabwe” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/, accessed June 1, 2024.↩
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The Rhodesdale Estate in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe was bounded by a line roughly connecting Gwelo (now Gweru], Que Que (Kwekwe], Hartley (Chegutu], Enkeldoorn (Chivhu), Umvuma (Mvuma), Lalapansi (Lalapanzi) and Gutu. Most of the people who were moved to Sanyati and Sebungwe (now Gokwe district) during the 1950s came from Rhodesdale, a vast ranch owned by the British multinational company, Lonrho Mining Limited. https://www.scielo.org.za/, accessed June 13, 2024.↩
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Ibid.↩
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Ibid.↩
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Silas. J. Mema, interview by the author, Gweru, June 23, 2024.↩
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Micah Moyo, interview by the author Pastor M. Moyo, June 17, 2024.↩
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Mr. Mazengwe, telephone interview with the author, June 17, 2024. Mr. Mazengwe is one of the early students of Mandora School in the 1950s.↩
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Ms. Nyashanu, telephone interview with the author, June 11, 2024. Ms. Nyashanu is the current head of Mandora Primary school.↩
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Interview with Remnant R. Ndlovu, June 18, 2024. Remnant Ndlovu, is son to Register Ndlovu, the administrative head of the Gunde school from 1966. He also spearheaded the establishment of the upper top (secondary) school in 1981 after Zimbabwe attained independence in 1980.↩
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Zimbabwe Union Conference Youth Department, Trailblazers of Adventism (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: Amagugu Publishers, 2019), 32.↩
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Remnant. R, Ndlovu, telephone interview with the author, June 18, 2024.↩
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O. Mandina, telephone interview with author, June 18, 2024.↩
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Linos Ncube, “The Republic of Zimbabwe,” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/, accessed June 1, 2024.↩
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N. G. Pambana, interview with the author, Kwekwe, June 26, 2024.↩
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Mark Nyandoro, “Land and agrarian policy in colonial Zimbabwe: Re-ordering of African society and development in Sanyati” Scientific Electronic Library Online, May 2019, accessed 13 June 2024, https://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0018-229X2019000100006&lng=en&nrm=iso.↩
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Linos Ncube, “The Republic of Zimbabwe,” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/, accessed June 1, 2024.↩
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Silas. J. Mema, interview with the author.↩
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Micah Moyo, interview with the author.↩
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Silas. J. Mema, interview with the author.↩
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Ibid.↩
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Ibid.↩
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Etwell Tapera, telephone interview with the author, June 24, 2024.↩
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Central Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, “Constitution and Bylaws of Central Zimbabwe Conference,” 2014, Article IV.↩
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Central Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Gweru, Zimbabwe), “Realignment Preparation Document,” 2014, 3.↩
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Ibid, 34.↩
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Etwell Tapera, telephone interview with the author, June 24, 2024.↩
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Ibid.↩
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“North-West Zimbabwe Conference,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (2016), 376.↩
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Dumisani Masikize, speech at ZCUC 2023-2025 Strategic Plan launch, January 2024, Kwekwe.↩
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Henry Makuvire, interview by the author, Kwekwe, June 28, 2024.↩
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North-West Zimbabwe Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (Kwekwe, Zimbabwe), minutes of the North-West Zimbabwe Conference executive committee, December 13, 2018.↩