By Br. Alfonce Kugwa and Sr. Mufaro Chakuinga
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Mazowe Valley Sub-Parish, has finally completed the construction of the long awaited priest’s house in Concession. The project which started in 2019 eventually came to fruition three years later through hard work and serious resource mobilization. The building of the parish house was made possible through the hard work of parishioners, the priest and well-wishers in the farming town and the Archdiocese of Harare who contributed their labour and hard earned resources to enable the comfort of the priest who used to stay in Mvurwi, which made it extremely difficult for him to attend to the needs of his flock.
Sacred Heart Sub-Parish Priest, Fr. Richard Mushuku said, parishioners contributed US$25 360.00 and ZWL 650 980.00 and a lot more in kind towards the construction of the massive priest’s house.
“Catholics and non-Catholics from around the area donated in cash and in kind towards the construction of the house. We realised US$25360.00 and ZWL650980.00, a submersible pump, 5000ltr water tank and other materials to build a tank stand, aluminium window frames and an aluminium sliding door, floor tiles, kitchen fittings, paint and curtains as well as provision of labour,” Fr. Mushuku said.
According to Fr. Mushuku, the supply of water from ZINWA could not cope with the demand during construction, hence the parish decided to drill a borehole to mitigate the water problem. The project was also made possible through concerted effort from Catholics within the Archdiocese of Harare who donated bricks and building material.
Fr. Mushuku said the Archdiocese of Harare, through Archbishop Robert Ndlovu, donated 200 bags of cement, roof trusses, roof tiles, ceiling, labour and US$2000.00 while Arch Zvita contributed a set of Sofas, 3 quarter beds, an upright fridge, 4 plate stove, 4 plate gas stove, 9kg Gas tank, 6 chair dining suit, a coffee table, a 32-inch television and 2 pairs bed sheets.
The initiative to build a priest house was as a result of the creation of Sacred Heart Mazowe Valley Sub-Parish from Mvurwi in 2019. Fr. Mushuku was then appointed as the parish priest but there was no decent accommodation to house the priest who had to service Mazowe centres from Mvurwi. At some point, Mazowe Sub-Parish was being served from Mazowe Seminary which complicated the life for local parishioners.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Mazowe Valley Sub-Parish is made up of nine centres that is Sacred Heart of Jesus Concession, St. Andrews Glendale, St. Barbra Jumbo, St. Joseph Citrus Mazowe, Iron Duke Mine, Cranham, Mbembi Seminary, All Saints and Beria Bellgon. Sacred Heart and St Andrews belongs to the urban and farming community, St Barbra and Iron Duke comprise of mining and farming Community while St. Joseph, Cranham, Mbembi, Beria Belgon and All Saints are all in the farming community.
However, the priest’s house is yet to be officially opened at a date to be announced.