Rev Chipoka-Zenda’s achievements demystify myths about people living with disabilities Rev Mary Chipoka-Zenda and husband Trevor
Rev Mary Chipoka-Zenda and husband Trevor

Rev Mary Chipoka-Zenda and husband Trevor

Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
REFORMED Church of Zimbabwe preacher Reverend Mary Chipoka-Zenda has a unique story which can only be equated to one Ludwig van Beethoven.

Beethoven, a classical music composer is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in history.

His story is similar to Rev Chipoka-Zenda’s as they have both achieved what many would consider impossible for those perceived to be “disabled”.

Beethoven (1770-1827) gave his first public performance as a pianist when he was eight years old and studied in Vienna under the guidance of Mozart.

He earned his feathers as a great pianist known for “unpredictable and brilliant improvisations” but sometime in 1796, Beethoven began losing his hearing.

However, the illness did not deter him from producing some of his finest works including the 9th Symphony, the 5th Piano Concerto, the Violin Concerto, the Late Quartets, and his Missa Solemnis. Beethoven was completely deaf for 25 years when he made these achievements.

What makes Rev Chipoka-Zenda’s achievements synonymous with the legendary Beethoven?

After becoming the first ever preacher with both speech and hearing impairments, Rev Chipoka-Zenda has become a revelation to the hearing impaired community in Masvingo.

The 32-year-old Rev Chipoka-Zenda’s achievements have demystified misconceptions associated with people living with disabilities. She also made history by becoming one of the top pastoral students training in Cape Town, South Africa.

Living above societal myths, her sermons have had congregates singing her praises for the astute preacher that she is.

She has since been appointed resident Chaplain for the Henry Murray School of the Deaf at Morgenster in Masvingo.

Her story is best described by the people who bear witness to her amazing achievements.

RCZ moderator, Reverend Dr Rangarirai Rutoro, said Rev Chipoka-Zenda is an amazing woman of God whose preaching has touched the hearts of many, despite the perceived language barrier.

He said the gifted preacher who uses sign language with the assistance of an interpreter has seen many church-goers learning “unique” preaching that “the church will not need an interpreter” at the end of the sermon.

“We’re the first church in Zimbabwe and beyond the region to have a preacher who is hearing impaired. This is a milestone achievement as Rev Chipoka-Zenda has gone through rigorous and painstaking pastoral training up to the diploma level like any of our pastors.

“She was enrolled at our pastoral college in Cape Town, South Africa where her lecturers are also singing praises about her character and work ethic,” said Dr Rutoro.

Dr Rutoro, who is also Chancellor at the Reformed Church University, said Rev Chipoka-Zenda had defied all odds by becoming a pastor.

This feat, he said, will put the Reformed Church in good stead where the hearing impaired will have an opportunity to understand the word of God fully.

Dr Rutoro said the church has a well ingrained reputation of nurturing the physically challenged including those with hearing and speech impairment.

“We’re known as champions in assisting children living with disabilities through the Henry Murray School of the Deaf at Morgenster and Copota School for the Blind in Zimuto communal lands.

“We’ve provided this community, which is an integral part of society, with an opportunity to learn and venture into their preferred disciplines or careers with special emphasis on the word of God, since we’re a Christian church,” said Dr Rutoro.

“This has seen a number of talented children emerging as role models in their own right because we’ve presented them with a conducive platform to unleash their God given talents.”

Dr Rutoro said the physically challenged have had the opportunity to learn vocational skills in the process becoming a marvel to a society which inadvertently “stigmatised” them.

“We have, however, scored a first by ordaining Rev Chipoka-Zenda as a pastor despite her condition and this is a milestone achievement for us as a church. This will go straight to the enviable annals of the church,” he said.

Dr Rutoro said Rev Chipoka-Zenda was motivated to become a preacher by Henry Murray’s head, Mr Kudakwashe Rugare and has never looked back since then.

Her former teacher at Emerald Hill School for the Deaf, Mr Lincoln Matongo, was ecstatic about Rev Chipoka-Zenda’s achievements. He was over the moon about seeing one of his students attaining such a “blessed” position in life despite societal misapprehensions.

“I’m on cloud nine after learning that Mary, my product, is now a qualified pastor. God has done her great favour and to the hearing impaired community at large.

“Let this be a challenge and motivation for others in the same situation. I’m really happy to be associated with such an achievement and it gives us the zeal to keep producing children with skills that can see them excelling in society,” said Mr Matongo.

Zimbabwe Open University special needs expert Professor David Chakuchichi said Rev Chipoka-Zenda’s achievements should be an eye-opener to society and country at large.

He said this was an illustration that people perceived to be disabled have the potential to do great things in life if provided with an enabling environment.

“What we’ve witnessed are the works of special needs education and I would want to commend her teachers and the schools that she attended for her success. The teachers were able to identify Mary’s passion, strength and skill and went on to nurture her,” said Prof Chakuchichi.

He said there were many things that people living with disabilities can do for the community and even change the lives of the able bodied for the better.

“I want to thank the RCZ for being at the forefront in assisting children with disabilities. They’re doing a great job. We’ve seen the hand of God upon Mary who has defied all odds and become a pastor with a Diploma in Pastoral Training for that matter. “The church has over the years helped Zimbabwe through training and teaching in this constituency. We have the likes of Munyaradzi Munodawafa, who, despite his partial blindness is now a music artiste of note.”

Prof Chakuchichi said the late Paul Matavire, whose songs are still hits even to this day, was also a product of such a system.

The Copota School of the Blind, which is also under the stewardship of the RCZ, has been an inspiration to this country.

“Through Mary, a number of deaf people who couldn’t attend church due to the language barrier will now be encouraged to attend as there’s someone who can relate with them,” he said.

RCU vice chancellor Professor Wiseman Magwa encouraged Rev Chipoka-Zenda to enrol for a Degree in Theology as she has demonstrated the zeal and ability to withstand the academic heat.

“We’ve seen her pedigree and I think she won’t face any hurdles in pursuing a degree programme with a Christian university like ours. We’ll readily accept her without any problem,” he said.

Born in 1985, Rev Chipoka-Zenda, originally from Nangwi Village, under Chief Zimuto, is the third daughter of Mr and Mrs Jonathan and Egneta Chipoka.

She did her primary education at Henry Murray before she went to Emerald Hill for her secondary education and then moved to the National Institute of the Deaf in Cape Town, South Africa. At the institute, Rev Chipoka-Zenda first did a Certificate in Theology before proceeding to do the diploma given her enthusiasm in evangelism.

A visit to her workplace revealed that Rev Chipoka-Zenda, who recently walked down the aisle with her sweetheart, Mr Trevor Zenda, who is also hearing impaired, commands respect and demonstrates a high degree of assertiveness and astuteness.Before anyone gets to know that she is hard of hearing, one cannot tell from her attention to detail.

She possesses the rare work ethic of a leader, manager and woman of God. Members of the clergy in her church say her professionalism bears testimony to the old adage, “disability does not mean inability”.

Rev Chipoka-Zenda lacks none of the characteristics of a Chaplain with the responsibility of overseeing a school with more than 200 pupils and 20 staff members.

She is comfortable at her work place; performing her duties to perfection and is well versed with the church programmes such that she rarely misses any church activities.

“I’m elated about becoming the first deaf pastor at my church,” said Rev Chipoka-Zenda.

“I nearly gave up my studies during training because of some challenges but my lecturers encouraged me to soldier on. I persevered and became one of the lecturers’ darlings and successfully completed my pastoral training,” she said in a WhatsApp chat interview.

She said she derived her inspiration from her husband, who stood by her during her studies and encouraged her to soldier on despite the challenges she faced.

“I nearly dropped out of school but my husband kept on encouraging me. My sponsors also made life easy for me as I was left to concentrate on my books and not paying fees. Our church moderator, Dr Rutoro, also played a big role in my studies which helped me to become a reverend and chaplain at the same time,” she said.

@wallebswazie3

You Might Also Like

Comments