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Stanely Mushava Review Correspondent
If Harare is a site of spiritual contest, as its contrasting tendencies suggest, then the open theatre at the corner of First Street and Speke Avenue may well be the foremost stronghold of God’s militants.

The Herald Review toured this Christian equivalent of ancient Athens’ Aeropagus to get a feel of the spiritual tempo.

Hundreds converge at the corner of First Street and Speke Avenue every week day between 11AM and 8PM for marathon sermons by a varied line-up of open-air preachers.

Mugomba, as the place is popularly known for its depressed location, means different things to different individuals. Interestingly, there are very few female participants, perhaps owing to the combative nature and take-no-prisoners approach of the discussions.

Some show up occasionally for spiritual sustenance, others linger awhile out of “wanderlust” and still more for biblical answers to the economic downturn.

Artwell Wikirefu is a recent university graduate who makes it a point to attend Mugomba sermons, following a chance encounter with a sermon that shook him.

“I did not attend church previously because the emphasis in most denominations I have been to did not address the deeper yearning of my spirit,” Wikirefu said.

“One day I was passing by with some friends, and I heard the Bible being expounded in a way I had never heard before.

“My friends left me transfixed there. In those few minutes, I had reached a resolution to a jigsaw puzzle I have been trying to connect for years,” Wikirefu said.

While the Mugomba arena is exclusively dedicated to sermons, the area just a few steps away hosts raging theological debates on a daily basis.

Farai Hamadi of Church of Christ, who makes a date with the First Street Bible study group every day after work said while the group’s approach is not to attack other denominations, heresy is ultimately exposed because it is not supported by the Bible.

Clifford Dube (58), an unaffiliated Christian, said the interdenominational study group had since been formalised, with participants congregating opposite the Eastgate Shopping Mall, although meetings have been currently discontinued.

The Herald Review could not establish just who is responsible for allocating preaching slots at the corner as the municipal authorities have not given their blessing to the activities.

“Preaching in the streets is not allowed. The street evangelists do not pay for the space,” said Harare City Council spokesperson Michael Chideme.

“This space is reserved for street theatre. These gatherings are making noise and disturbing the peace for those housed in the neighbouring businesses,” Mr Chideme said.

But if they are aware that they do not have permission from the responsible authorities in this earthly realm, the pastors blithely carry on with their services with PA systems and image capturing equipment.

Apostle Thomas Chiwenga, who preaches between 5PM to 8PM, from Monday through Friday, by far the largest and most popular slot at Mugomba, has been around since 2012.

“I am mandated to preach the deeper revelation of Jesus Christ, the true message which is centred on Jesus Christ, because the whole Bible talks about him, contrary to what microwave prosperity gospel preachers suggest,” Chiwenga said.

“People are coming in their numbers to hear the word. At least five people give their lives to Jesus on a daily basis. I am, however, facing various challenges in my mission because the true message inevitably unmasks false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing whereas they are wolves,” he said.

Just as conflict has always been a strong ally of religion from the earliest stages of recorded human history, the preaching corner is not all about fraternal feelings. Sometimes debates in direct response to messages preached at the main arena, get way too passionate.

Pastor Chiwenga was one of the combatants in what H-Metro dubbed the “1st Street Holy War” which broke out into a physical confrontation last week Thursday. A fellow street preacher, Pastor Shava, allegedly got hold of Pastor Chiwenga’s collar demanding that the latter defend his preaching and interpretation of the Bible.

Robson Majiya (50) of Spoken Word Ministries used to preach at the arena every day from 12PM to 1PM but claimed that he has since been struck off-schedule by people who deemed his sermons to offend their denominations.

“Here we say what cannot be said in mainstream churches and expose false doctrines. I have preached here since 2007, not consistently because of the nature of my day job and it has always been an enriching experience regardless of the opposition I have met from some quarters,” Majiya said.

Majiya said when he used to work as a salesman some of his customers would recognise him and testify having heard him preach at First Street.

Pastor Simbarashe Marava (48) of Restoration Ministry used to preach at Mugomba beginning early last year but said he had stopped and reverted to the Bible study group because of inordinate competition among different preachers.

“Denominations have their narrow agendas but the bell we beat here is the ultimate authority of God’s Word,” Marava said.

“You find that people are being weakened by some church systems which emphasise allegiance to personalities and institutions as opposed to God,” he said.

“They cannot seek clarifications in their denominations for what they perceive to be a mismatch between God’s Word and church doctrine because they are afraid of being labelled subversive.”

Marava, who has been preaching since 1986, said the informal gathering was an ideal place to discuss God’s truth without being distracted by merchandise and hero-worship, sideshows for which he faulted major Pentecostal denominations.

But for each pastor who leaves the prime corner, there are many others willing to step in.

Apostle Antony Chingandu of Christ’s Kingdom Ministries preaches along First Street from 3PM to 4PM every week day.

For Chingandu, the place is a strategic site for reaching out with God’s Word to the largest audience possible.

“We are honouring the great commission to preach the gospel everywhere, not just conventional places,” Chingandu said.

“If you read Jesus’ Parable of the Wedding Garment, the servants are specifically assigned into the streets to summon people from all walks of life to the feast,” he said.

And First Street might be just such a dragnet, with its cosmopolitan resume. Pastors package their sermons and sell DVDs as well as pass the collection plate but it is not clear if the corner is highly lucrative.

Chingandu said it did not require much decision or boldness for passers-by to be part of the crowd, given the informal set-up hence more chances of reaching people who would not ordinarily go to church.

He said although some people may be drawn to the place primarily to resolve immediate problems, the preaching goes beyond the material.

“People are stressed – no money, no jobs, no ideas. Some come here because they need answers, which is still good because they might have otherwise fallen into crime and corruption.

“We then present the holistic package of the Gospel to respond to every human need in light of 3 John 1:1 which says ‘I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers,’” Chingandu said.

Pastor Nathan Moyo (52) of Grace Bible Church participates in the Bible study group adjacent to the Mugomba arena.

“There is a lot of positive spiritual energy here which draws people to our discussions and that way we occasionally get a chance to minister to those who have not yet received Christ,” Moyo said.

“I have met people from all walks of life here. Some respect the fact that I am a pastor and pour out their unanswered questions,” he said.

Moyo said several WhatsApp platforms had been opened to enable follow-up on new converts and to continue Bible discussions during hours when the group cannot physically meet.

He said although people who converge for the Bible debates are from different denominations, they are kept together by their sincerity and thirst for the truth of the Bible.

McDonald Mbofana (23) of the United Family International Church (UFIC) said he was drawn to preach at First Street between 11AM and 12PM at an early age because of his love of Christ.

“First Street has emboldened me in my calling to preach the Gospel to everyone. I also preach in schools, parks and hospitals but I learnt a lot about evangelism from this place.

Some theological students go through First Street in partial fulfilment of their practical training, while some churches have actually been launched from there.

Open-air preaching at the Africa Unity Square and several other street corners, and the sale of Bibles at most vending verandas also suggest a spiritually active Harare.

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