African Apostolic Church founder Archbishop Paul Mwazha will be laid to rest this Sunday at Chirasauta in Manicaland, after his family declined the government’s offer to bury him at the National Heroes Acre. The decision follows days of speculation and political attention surrounding the funeral of the cleric, who was declared a national hero by President Emmerson Mnangagwa shortly after his death.
In a statement released this week, the Mwazha family confirmed that the burial would follow long-standing church and family customs rather than the government’s preferred arrangements. Family spokesperson Dr Masimba Mwazha said the programme had been finalised and would honour the Archbishop’s wishes and spiritual traditions.
“The body of the national hero will leave Harare on Saturday for Chikomba District, where everyone will be gathered. The body will depart for Chirasauta on Sunday for burial at a private function,” he said.
Although families of individuals granted national hero status occasionally opt for private burial sites, Archbishop Mwazha’s case has drawn unusual public attention. This is largely because the ruling ZANU PF party had shown notable eagerness to steer the funeral, consistent with a broader pattern where high-profile burials are used to project political strength or associate the party with respected national figures. Over the decades, funerals have frequently become national public events where political symbolism carries as much weight as commemoration.
For Archbishop Mwazha, who died last Thursday at the age of 105, signs of political interest had been growing for months. Senior ZANU PF officials publicly courted him ahead of various political activities, and his appearances at ruling party-linked events were increasingly scrutinised. This attention intensified after he received a luxury vehicle and significant cash gifts from businessman Wicknell Chivayo, a controversial figure widely known for his close ties to the ruling party. The donations sparked debate, with critics arguing that religious leaders risk being drawn into political agendas, while supporters dismissed the concerns as overblown.
Honour Declined: Mwazha Snubs National Heroes Acre Burial Offer
Despite the noise, the Mwazha family’s decision to follow traditional church customs appears to have brought clarity and calm to the situation. It also reasserts the family’s authority over the burial of a man whose spiritual influence long preceded and outweighed the political interests surrounding him.
President Mnangagwa, in conferring national hero status, praised Archbishop Mwazha for his contribution to the growth of African independent churches and for promoting unity, moral discipline and peace. Following the declaration, ZANU PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, accompanied by Minister of State for National Security Lovemore Matuke, visited the Mwazha home in Hatfield to deliver the formal message of condolence from the President.
“Archbishop Mwazha played an important role during the liberation struggle and post-independence in promoting peace and Christianity,” Muchinguri-Kashiri said. She also described him as a moral example whose teachings had touched millions.
Born on 25 October 1918 at Holy Cross Mission in Chirumanzu, Paul Mwazha grew into one of the most influential figures in Zimbabwe’s religious landscape. His life story, filled with accounts of spiritual encounters and divine calling, became central to the formation of the African Apostolic Church. Under his leadership, the church grew into a major African Independent Church movement, recognised for its disciplined worship practices, emphasis on family unity and strong moral teachings.
For many of his followers, Mwazha was not only a religious leader but also a community stabiliser, a spiritual counsellor and a symbol of consistency over nearly a century of ministry. His teachings reached far across Zimbabwe and into regional communities, creating a legacy that his supporters say cannot be confined to political labels or state narratives.
His burial at Chirasauta, therefore, represents more than a logistical choice. It is a recognition of the central role that his family and church have played throughout his life and ministry. It also reflects a belief that his final resting place should align with the spiritual identity he cultivated, rather than with a national political monument that—while prestigious—carries different symbolic weight.
The decision is also notable because, while rare, it subtly underscores the autonomy of religious communities in determining how to honour their leaders. In this case, the family’s insistence on privacy and tradition has effectively set boundaries against what many observers described as an attempt to turn the Archbishop’s passing into a political display.
As preparations proceed for the Sunday burial, congregants from across the country are expected to participate in farewell ceremonies that focus on Archbishop Mwazha’s religious legacy. For many, the moment marks not just the end of a long life, but the celebration of a spiritual journey that shaped countless families and communities.
In opting for a private burial at Chirasauta, the Mwazha family has ensured that the final chapter of the Archbishop’s life story will be written on his own terms—guided by the values and traditions that defined his ministry for more than 60 years.
Source- ZimEye
