The Sunday News
RHYTHM moves the world, nay the cosmos in their natural totality. Accentuated and enhanced rhythm strikes and soothes the chords of one’s heart. When the body sways in calming and hypnotising waves and the spurting vocals collaborate, the experience is tantalising and shattering. Hand cushions thudded, their muffled, yet explosive encounters, enticed and caressed the eardrums. This was the scene at Inyathi Mission last Sunday when hundreds gathered to witness some historic induction of Reverend Sikhangezile Mhlanga as the first woman resident pastor for the mission.
Certainly, the glamorous event was long time coming. The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), previously known as the London Missionary Society (LMS), has several regions within the Zimbabwe Synod presently chaired by Moffat Ndlovu, Bulawayo’s former Town Clerk. The Synod’s regions are Bulawayo, Dombodema, Hope Fountain, Lupane, Tjimali and Zinyangeni. There are local churches in Kwekwe, Harare and Gweru though these do not constitute regions.
When you enter the gate at Inyathi Mission you are welcomed by the proud message indicating that it was established in 1859 the year King Mzilikazi gave the Reverend Doctor Robert Moffat permission to set up Zimbabwe’s oldest Christian mission station. He was accompanied by Reverends William Sykes, Thomas Morgan Thomas, John Smith Moffat and their wives. Formal Western education was offered quite early too and this is captured in the following words, also emblazoned on the entrance: “we were there when education started.”
Reverend Mhlanga is not the first female pastor in the UCCSA in Zimbabwe. There have been female pastors before in other regions such as Reverends Sikhangezile Makhwelo, Thelma Moyo, Sinqobile Sibanda and Dojiwe Masuku. Inducting the first female pastor at Makhaza Nkala region carries some historical significance. This becomes all the more important because here is where evangelical work started and yet it was not to be in terms of inducting a female pastor. Was it a question of conservatism within this region? Interestingly, there was pomp and ceremony on the day which showed excitement on the part of the congregants.
The group named the Soldiers of Christ encapsulates and epitomises the irrevocable change that has taken place within the UCCSA. The group of men and women are sporting khaki, white and black colours. Their uniforms blend well with their shiny black shoes. However, it is their energy and vigour when they sing and dance that expresses the change that has taken place. It is no longer the quiet sort of disinterested and unindulging poise as happened when the wives of the pioneering missionaries sang the mutilated Ndebele chant and song, “Woz’ ubone nans’ indaba yomkhonto.”
It is clear there has been some indigenisation or enculturation in Catholic parlance in the way worship is being conducted. The beat in songs is Ndebele and captures that found in isitshikitsha. The cushions are akin to those worn by male dancers of imasikhukhu or ingquzu a dance that used to be popular in Nkayi, Gwelutshena in particular. The style and rhythm of singing and dancing is similar to that performed by the adherents of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) founded in South Africa by Enginas Lekganyane. This should not come as a surprise considering that the ZCC is strong in Botswana where the UCCSA was established a long time ago. While all this energetic and vigorous singing was going on I sneaked to the back where the elderly gentlemen were seated. It was as if there was a funeral vigil. They were motionless and unemotional. After all, change is not embraced by all at the same time!
The school choir, conducted by the high school’s deputy head Frank Phiri, was immaculately dressed with some of them wearing colourful flowing robes. Others donned the school’s trademark colours of grey, light blue and maroon. The décor comprised light blue, maroon, white, black and grey colours. The pastors’ regalia of flowing black robes and maroon sashes matched the ambience of the dining hall where the proceedings took place. Enoch Bhebhe, a former head of the primary school welcomed the visitors who came from all the regions of the Zimbabwe Synod.
Then came the time to introduce the officials of the church: Synod members, educational board members, pastors from the various regions and delegates from the same regions. After a brief speech by the Synod chairman it was time to get to the business of the day — the induction of Reverend Sikhangezile Mhlanga who all along had been seating with her husband Zano Mhlanga in a sofa draped in white linen. They sat facing the rest of the pastors who were in front. The honour of introducing her fell on Reverend Sikhangezile Makhwelo who is the mission’s chaplain.
Reverend Mhlanga, nee Nkala, was born on 5 June 1973 at Mbawulo in Filabusi. She attended Mbawulo Primary School after which she attended Lobengula Primary School in Bulawayo. She did her secondary education at Mpopoma High School, completing in 1990. From 2010 to 2014 she attended the United Theological College in Harare where she trained as a pastor. Her first appointment, as an intern, was in Lupane where she served till her recent transfer to Inyathi Mission.
When Reverend Mhlanga stood up, the Soldiers of Christ broke into vigorous singing and dancing. Reverend Mhlanga was not to be outdone. She swayed like a willow tree to the wind. These are perfect matches all swayed and catapulted by movement and rhythm. The pastor being inducted had asked the congregation to sing Hymn 63. There were wild ululations from the ecstatic women wearing white rosettes. It was a hilarious moment of joy and abandon.
In our society one who is being congratulated is showered with gifts. There was once again joyous singing, dancing and ululations as women moved in a single file to present Reverend Mhlanga with gifts. There was a short moment when the pastors and top officials of the church filed out of the dining hall to bless an Isuzu Hilux that the school bought with the assistance of a UK-based donor and the school’s School Development Committee (SDC) which was represented by its secretary Ms Sithatshisiwe Ncube with Reverend Moyo of Hope Fountain blessing the truck.
A service is never complete without reading the word of God from the Holy Bible. Reverend Theophilus Mpofu did not disappoint. For us this was an occasion to kill two birds with one stone. Kudzai Chikomo, Terry and I came to video-film the proceedings as part of ongoing efforts to develop a promotional video for the church which is poised to establish a University of Inyathi on three campuses at Inyathi, Hope Fountain and Dombodema missions. Some of the footage we got here will be used in the proposed promo-video to raise the required funds.
