About 114 miles east of Bulawayo the Rev. Z. Mazvabo and his elders work among the Shona people at New Canaan and in the surrounding countryside. There are eight different locations where services are held — New Canaan, Chiedza, Akori, Zungwi, Matobere, Zvishavane and a resettlement area where a few local people gather. There is an eighth place also. Mr Mazvabo has two elders, Mr Fanuel Sibanda, and Mr Naison Siziba who attended the 1990 Synod. It must take a great deal of self-denying effort to hold services in these diverse places. Small churches are being built in some locations, and there is a great need for the prayer of friends that a rich blessing would follow such earnest endeavours to spread the Word of God in that part of the country.
For some years there was ill-feeling and prejudice among the local people against the church, but this seems to have melted away and the congregation continues to increase. One great problem there is the scarcity of water. There have been years of drought with the exception of ’89-’90 when there was a heavy rainfall; but again this year the rain has been very scanty, and the prospect of a good harvest is remote. For this reason it has been decided to move the centre of the work from New Canaan to Chiedza, a distance of ten miles, where there is also a large congregation, and the water is more plentiful.
While the Rev. B. B. Dube was ill in hospital in Bulawayo, Mr Mazvabo’s Mother was seriously ill in his own home. After Mr Dube’s death Mr Mazvabo went to Bulawayo to sympathise with Mrs Dube. The following day his own dear Mother passed away, and she was buried on the same day as the Rev. B. B. Dube. As Mr Mazvabo wrote, “We had sorrow upon sorrow”. His Mother had been blind for some years and lived in the family home.
Mr Mazvabo’s sight has been causing a great deal of anxiety, as most of us know, and has continued to deteriorate. This is undoubtedly a great handicap for a young, devoted minister, but with the help of a driver, his wife and family Mr Mazvabo continues his work as usual. Surely we should support him with our prayers.
Miss MacCuish who taught very successfully at Ingwenya for sixteen years is returning for a period of three months to give much needed assistance in the John Tallach School, at the request of the School Staff. Miss Graham has returned to her post as Head Mistress, and Miss Macaulay is at home in Lewis enjoying a much needed rest.
Mention has been made before now of Margaret Maturure who arrived at the John Tallach School about ten years ago to begin Four One. Margaret is severely disabled and uses a wheelchair. Margaret continued with her education elsewhere until she entered Harare University where she has now graduated in Social Administration. Over the years Margaret kept in close touch with the Mission and on several occasions helped in the School Library while on vacation. While at home in Bulawayo she was “collected” by car to take her to Lobengula Church. She is currently teaching in the John Tallach School while awaiting a post.
The 1990 Form Four results have arrived in the school office and they are exceptionally good. One boy gained eight “A” grades, and Paris, one of the visually handicapped boys, gained seven “A’s” and one “B”. The blind boys who sat the examination got an excellent mixture of “A’s” and “B’s”. A total of 89% of the 112 pupils received five passes. So they can continue elsewhere to Form 5 and 6, or they can start another Course.
There were 1000 applicants for 150 places in Form One. All had to be tested. Local children are now being accepted as day-scholars. It is worth mentioning that owing to the generosity and interest of friends, far and near, our blind and visually handicapped pupils are better equipped than are most of those in other schools, and in illustration of this Miss Macaulay has just sent out two more tape-recorders by Miss MacCuish. J.N.