SA-based businessman donates vehicles to BICC church

BLESSED is the hand that giveth than the one that taketh. The biblical teaching has been grasped by Gwanda-born and South Africa-based business mogul Mr Justice Maphosa who donated two brand-new vehicles, a Nissan Quantum to the Brethren-In-Christ Church in Gwanda and an Audi A3 to the church's pastor, Reverend Sipho Mhizha.

Mr Maphosa donated the two vehicles on Sunday last week during a church service at Brethren-In-Christ Church in Jahunda. He runs an Information Communication Technology (ICT) consortium Big Time Strategic Group in South Africa.

In his speech during the donation, Mr Maphosa said he was inspired to do so because he believed that giving opens doors for receiving and wanted the word of God to be spread easily without transport constraints.

"This donation I made it because I feel as a son of Gwanda and a Zimbabwean the onus is on me to help the church for the word of God to spread and also to serve the community. Most people look at themselves only but fail to plough back into the society they come from," said Mr Maphosa.

He also said although the minibus belonged to Brethren-In-Christ Church it was also there to serve everyone in Gwanda.

"If you see someone hit by a car, stop and pick that person to hospital. Carry those elderly women who struggle to walk. That's the purpose of this vehicle. It's also for going for church meetings and funerals," he said.

Rev Mhizha said the vehicle will go a long way in helping the church grow.

"We are very grateful to Mr Maphosa and his company Big Time Strategic Group and his family who continue to think about us. We are very happy too as a family for receiving a car. Men of God are mostly looked down upon but Mr Maphosa has raised us. We very much appreciate his gesture," said Rev Mhizha.

He said the church's relationship with Mr Maphosa dates back to the launch of the Gwanda Gospel Extravaganza last year in which he was helpful.

"We are continuing from there, building our relations as the church and Mr Maphosa's companies and family. We will continue to engage him wherever we feel he can help," he said.

Mr Maphosa is the sponsor of the gospel show which has seen top South African singers performing in Gwanda and has also partnered with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority in sponsoring the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe.