Antony Chawagarira
MBUNGO – September 15 carries a special coincidence for Zimbabwe’s political and religious landscape, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zion Christian Church (ZCC) leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi sharing the same birthday.
While President Mnangagwa, born on September 15, 1942, turned 84 on Tuesday, Bishop Mutendi, born on the same day in 1939, also celebrated his birthday, turning 87.
The two leaders, separated by three years in age, have marked their birthdays on the same date for decades, although in different spheres of national life.
For the ZCC, September 15 provides an annual opportunity to celebrate the life and service of Bishop Mutendi, who has led the church for nearly five decades.
Born at Mukute Mission in Bikita, Masvingo, Bishop Mutendi was the sixth son of the late Reverend Samuel Mutendi, the founder of the ZCC.
Bishop Mutendi once recalled that his birth came in a significant year for the church, which at the time had endured years of persecution and restrictions under colonial rule.
He said the church obtained a Peace Order in 1939, which allowed his father and followers to worship publicly without harassment, marking an important milestone in the development of the indigenous church.
Bishop Mutendi grew up in Bikita and attended Pamushana for his primary education before proceeding to Solusi for his Junior Certificate.
He later trained as a teacher at what is now Mutare Teachers’ College and taught in Manicaland before being recalled to serve in the church’s schools.
His career took a major turn in 1977 when, at the age of 37, he was ordained Bishop and assumed leadership of the ZCC following the death of his father in 1976.
Since then, he has overseen the expansion of the church from its traditional spiritual mandate into a broad development institution with investments in education, agriculture, skills development, social services and other community initiatives.
Some time back, Bishop Mutendi outlined how the church had embarked on an ambitious development programme which included the acquisition of Mbungo Farm in 1981 and construction of schools beginning with Mutendi Primary School in 1982, Mutendi High School in 1983 and Hebron High School in Mwenezi in 1986.
He also highlighted the church’s involvement in inclusive education, adult literacy, vocational training and scholarships for orphans and vulnerable children.
Through Rugare Community Relief Services, the church has supported vulnerable communities, while vocational training programmes have equipped beneficiaries with skills in building, welding, carpentry and joinery, plumbing, dressmaking and computing.
By 2026, the ZCC’s development footprint had expanded considerably, with the church associated with more than three dozen projects and institutions across various sectors, reflecting the growth of what has become a sizeable church-led development enterprise.
The church has also expanded beyond Zimbabwe, establishing regional and overseas parishes to serve its followers in the diaspora, including in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.
As the ZCC celebrated Bishop Mutendi’s 87th birthday, the occasion provided an opportunity for followers to reflect on his journey from growing up at the family mission in Bikita, through teaching, to becoming a leader of a church whose activities now extend well beyond worship.
For Zimbabwe, meanwhile, September 15 remains a notable shared birthday, as Bishop Mutendi turned 87 and President Mnangagwa marked 84.
