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The ZCC building in Bikita now a tourist attraction
04 Jul 2011 at 13:35hrs | Views
The US$2 million Zion Christian Church multi-purpose Mbungo Conference Centre in Bikita, Masvingo has become an unlikely tourist attraction. The centre has 5 000 square metres of conference space, which accommodates 40 000 people.
Imposing and majestic building in Bikita that is now an unlikely tourist attraction. It is the multi-million dollar conference centre built by the Zion Christian Church. Some now call it the Star Temple on account of its shape which depicts the star on the church's badge.
The building was officially opened by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.
Construction begun is 2005, at the height of economic problems. It was officially opened by President Mugabe this year. The church's leader, Nehemiah Mutendi gave up his favourite drink, Coke for almost six years, as a sign of sacrifice.
The church has requested their building to be made a tourism religious shrine.
The church regards the year 1913 as the year that God remembered them after the founding father Reverend Samuel Mutendi received his spiritual bath while he was serving as a police officer in Chegutu (then Hartley).
Reverend Mutendi was a powerful preacher, who also had the rare gifts of faith healing and rain-making, which made him very popular among the rural folk.
He healed people with holy water, his holy rod (Mapumhangozi), ordinary salt and coffee.
Rev Mutendi taught his patients to pray and acknowledge the love of God. This saw many people being converted and joining him in ministering the word of God. In Harare many women have testified to having been cured of obstetric and gynaecological problems.
In the 1960s, Rev Mutendi's father prayed for one Frenchwoman, Jacqueline, who was barren and she gave birth to a baby girl who she named Chipo (Gift).
Imposing and majestic building in Bikita that is now an unlikely tourist attraction. It is the multi-million dollar conference centre built by the Zion Christian Church. Some now call it the Star Temple on account of its shape which depicts the star on the church's badge.
The building was officially opened by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.
Construction begun is 2005, at the height of economic problems. It was officially opened by President Mugabe this year. The church's leader, Nehemiah Mutendi gave up his favourite drink, Coke for almost six years, as a sign of sacrifice.
The church has requested their building to be made a tourism religious shrine.
Reverend Mutendi was a powerful preacher, who also had the rare gifts of faith healing and rain-making, which made him very popular among the rural folk.
He healed people with holy water, his holy rod (Mapumhangozi), ordinary salt and coffee.
Rev Mutendi taught his patients to pray and acknowledge the love of God. This saw many people being converted and joining him in ministering the word of God. In Harare many women have testified to having been cured of obstetric and gynaecological problems.
In the 1960s, Rev Mutendi's father prayed for one Frenchwoman, Jacqueline, who was barren and she gave birth to a baby girl who she named Chipo (Gift).
Source - Byo24News
