Rev Amos Tinos Mangena is no more! That Gentle Retired Clergyman of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) is gone. Gone to be with our Lord. The Religious Mountain has fallen! Rev Mangena passed on today in Mberengwa. He was 90 years old.
The now late Reverend was ordained as a Religious leader in 1983. He served as a Resident Pastor at Mazetese, Mavorovondo and Chabwira Parishes. It was his stay at Mavorovondo Parish that Rev Mangena became attracted to me in particular but also to my family and the Ecumenical community.
In 1993, I was part of the young excited and highly committed Lutheran team that was baptised by Rev Mangena. In that team were also some now prominent public figures in the form of Rev Alex Chiduwa and current Gweru Urban Member of Parliament and Prominent Human Rights Lawyer, Honourable Brian Dube. I still remember very well, how Rev Mangena and the Evangelist Marova of Gaha took us through the “Class” process. You would be required to fulfill a comprehensive Class process from where you would emerge as a true Lutheran figure, knowing the Church history, liturgy and expected conduct of a Christian.
While in Mavorovondo, Rev Mangena became part and parcel of the larger community. By the way, to me the late Reverend was Sekuru to my mother. Thus, we would spend time with him at our place when he visited his Muzukuru. He would teach us to be good Children of God. I was proud to be related to the Man of God and I was jealousy of him ( _zvaidadisa_ _kuva_ _muzukuru_ _waMufundisi_ ).
At Mavorovondo Primary School, I was in the same class with his granddaughter, Nomsa. Nomsa was intelligent but there were three or four people who would not allow her to occupy certain positions particularly numbers one to three. These were myself (always number one), then Angela Zvipo Gumbo (Nee Moyo), Patronella Gumbo among others.
Rev Mangena left behind eight children who are Kettlia; Eltina; Kwaedza; Sheunopa; Zanorashe; Tovimbanashe; Arnold and Miranashe and thirty one grandchildren who include Nomsa. Kettlia (Mai Nomsa) is now serving as an ELCZ Reverend in Mberengwa.
Rev Mangena’s children are all dedicated and committed members of the ELCZ. In fact, in Mberengwa, the name, Mangena has become synonymous with ELCZ because of figures like the late Reverend.
In the Ecumenical world, Rev Mangena has been well represented by one of his daughters in law, Mrs Charity Mangena of Southlands in Harare. Charity is an active member of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) Women Ecumenical Fellowships (Mubatanidzwa WeMadzimai). She has been an instrumental figure in the designing and execution of ZCC work in Harare. Charity is also currently the Chairlady for ZCC Local Peace Committee in her area.
It is sad that Rev Mangena has passed on some couple of weeks after he had lost some property worth thousands of dollars when his house was gutted down by fire. He had been so attached to his Church books, yet, the fire did not spare them at least for him.
We however, thank our Good Lord for keeping Rev Mangena for such a long time. We further thank his children for being there for him during his last days on earth.
The Mberengwa community has lost a Religious Hero while the ELCZ will never be the same without wise men such as the late Rev Mangena. Burial arrangements are yet to be communicated by the family.
We say Go Well Rev Mangena!
Go Well Our Sekuru!
*Dr* *Tinashe* *Gumbo*
*(Muzukuru)*
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