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Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Senior Lifestyle Writer

Local businessman, Patrick Chingoka is today set to be awarded the medal of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Cross of Honour) and a Certificate from the Bishop of Rome, the head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State Pope Francis.

Chingoka is receiving this recognition after his tremendous philanthropic work in the Roman Catholic Church of Zimbabwe at a Mass to be conducted at Conception Mass Centre — Nazareth House along Enterprise road.

The Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, also known as the Cross of Honour, comes directly from the “Holy See” and is composed of a gold medal with the name of the honour inscribed, as well as a scroll.

It was established by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 and since then has been awarded to Catholics aged forty-five and above who have shown distinguished service to the Church and to the Papal office.

Speaking to Saturday Herald Lifestyle, Father Tryvis Moyo, parish priest at St Gerard’s Church confirmed the development and said Chingoka will be given the medal and certificate by Archbishop Bishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu.

The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal

“We are going to be celebrating this achievement with a mass service and the Archbishop of Harare, Robert Christopher Ndlovu will confer the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice to Patrick Chingoka.

The Papal medal of honour and a certificate that accompanies it, were given at the Vatican. They are a recognition of Chingoka’s contribution to the Church and the Pope,” he said.

Father Moyo said due to the Covid-19 guidelines they could have hosted a big event but today was only for a few while  the rest will join from the virtual platforms.

“Under normal circumstances, there would have been several guests from all corners of the country. We are however, in the Covid-19 period and that means a gathering that might have been a big one will be limited to a hundred people.

“Only representatives from the Church in Harare, his family and fellow parishioners will attend. We however, have made provisions for those who cannot join the live celebrations to follow the proceedings via the social media platforms,” he said.

He said they will also read a message from Pope Francis which is accompanied by the medal.

“The significance of the medal is that the universal church recognises the good that is done by its members even in Zimbabwe.

“We have had a couple of people receiving different medals from the Pope. At St Gerard’s Church, Chingoka is the third one after the late Simon Nondo who was honoured for his outstanding work at the Catholic University and Mr Kuseri who was a driver at the Nunciature to receive the honour,” he said.

Asked how Chingoka was selected, he said Papal honours and awards are given by the Pope, but the local church makes nominations.

“There is therefore a process that ends up with one’s recognition.

Men and women of tremendous heroic virtue emerge from the parish communities or institutions. At times it takes the initiative of the parishioners or institutions within the church to request that someone be recognised. The process is however, a confidential one.

Papal honours are given to people of outstanding valour and bravery on behalf of the Church and society. As for Chingoka, apart from being a man of tremendous heroic virtue he has used his expertise as a professional to serve the church.

As a seasoned consultant on labour issues, he has over the years used his skills to help the church and its institutions align itself with labour laws.

He also helped the church negotiate the transition from employing people out of compassion to contractual agreements. Furthermore, he has been conducting workshops throughout the country training people in Catholic institutions in diverse issues that are related to labour issues,” explained Father Moyo.

Contacted for comment, Chingoka was grateful of how the church was appreciating his work and owes the success to his family and God.

“I feel happy to be recognised among the laity. I owe my success to my late father Douglas who set this foundation for us while growing up. I wish my late wife Daisy could be here to witness this special occasion. I also want to thank my family for standing up with me and the best thing, knowing and putting God first has been our motto. I never knew one day, I could be getting this,” he said.

Chingoka was born on November 3, 1948 and is brother to former late Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Peter and former Tennis Zimbabwe president Paul Chingoka.

He attended St Ignatius College in Chishawasha before pursuing a career in Labour Relations and Human Resource Consultancy.

The humble businessman sits on a number of boards, corporate and NGO’s in the country.