FOR 18 days, thousands of members of the Johane Marange Apostolic sect led by Saint Noah Taguta converge for their annual passover conference in Mafararikwa, Manicaland.
Having gathered for that long, it takes close to a week for the church members to completely disperse from the ‘holy city’ when the conference is concluded.
Secured with high walls and a gate that has the inscription: ‘St John Marange Holy of Holies Temple Apostle Church Bocha Passca’, the holy city is another world on its own.
The hyperactivity at the entrance is just a microcosm of what happens inside. While the two hour service of this particular Sabbath was scheduled for 2pm, vehicles were already ferrying people to the conference as early as 8 am.
A number of elders vetting the vehicles are on a tarred road that leads to the holy city. More elders are positioned at the successive entrance points. The pedestrian traffic is also unstoppable.
But there are some ground rules that have to be adhered to – everyone has to enter the ‘holy city’ barefooted, including those driving their vehicles. Any food item containing yeast and sweets is not allowed through the gates.
Women wearing trousers cannot enter the holy city. Those not donning white garments must be clad in long and dignified dresses or skirts. Their heads must be covered.
No stranger is allowed to loiter in and around the holy city, let alone engage in conversations with the young girls and women. One risks being thoroughly beaten to instil discipline.
Meanwhile,the elders’ wives ensure that their husbands are not hungry as they occasionally bring food. Now and again, the elders tackle matters that require instant solutions.
As the clock slowly ticks towards the afternoon service, church members begin taking their positions for the service. Barefooted visitors are escorted to a courtyard where the senior elders are gathered. An elder guides the visitors in a single file, everything has to be conducted in an orderly manner.
Special seats are reserved for the visitors who include officials from the Registrar General who have spent some days at the holy city processing identity documents for the church members.
Dignitaries, including Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere are also present.
Towards the east is a building housing St Noah Taguta, he will emerge from there when the service is underway. Due to the large numbers in attendance, some congregates are likely to leave the holy city without setting eyes on the saint.
Finally, as congregates sit in a massive oval shape with men and women on different sides, a sea of white garments, rods and clean shaven heads is formed.
One by one, energetic elders come to the centre to lead the huge gathering in song. It seems ‘Taunganira Baba Noah’ is the most popular song as it is sung several times.
As St Noah walks to take his place, some church members fall into a trance upon catching a glimpse of him. A woman rushes towards the revered leader, catching the elders unaware.
By the moment they recover from the surprise, she is only a few meters away from the reach of St Noah but some church members whisk her away. Is it a demon or the desire to at least touch the garment of the saint?
Noone answers that question.
While some prophets, including those coming from as far as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Malawi take turns to give sermons, St Noah only leads the gathering in song and follows proceedings like everyone else.
Occasionally, the seated church members get into a kneeling position and sing. In exactly two hours, the service comes to an end and the congregates disperse in single files as they return to their tents.
A large number also throngs the courtyard to see the woman who attempted to touch the saint’s garment. Her whereabouts are kept a secret.
As for the evasive St Noah, this publication had to go through five levels of elders to talk to him, all to no avail.
Having gathered for that long, it takes close to a week for the church members to completely disperse from the ‘holy city’ when the conference is concluded.
Secured with high walls and a gate that has the inscription: ‘St John Marange Holy of Holies Temple Apostle Church Bocha Passca’, the holy city is another world on its own.
The hyperactivity at the entrance is just a microcosm of what happens inside. While the two hour service of this particular Sabbath was scheduled for 2pm, vehicles were already ferrying people to the conference as early as 8 am.
A number of elders vetting the vehicles are on a tarred road that leads to the holy city. More elders are positioned at the successive entrance points. The pedestrian traffic is also unstoppable.
 |
| Men , amongst them Minister of Local Government, Public works and Urban Development Cde Saviour Kasukuwere (circled) follow proceedings at the annual passover last week – Pictures by Edmore Muzerengi |
Women wearing trousers cannot enter the holy city. Those not donning white garments must be clad in long and dignified dresses or skirts. Their heads must be covered.
No stranger is allowed to loiter in and around the holy city, let alone engage in conversations with the young girls and women. One risks being thoroughly beaten to instil discipline.
Meanwhile,the elders’ wives ensure that their husbands are not hungry as they occasionally bring food. Now and again, the elders tackle matters that require instant solutions.
As the clock slowly ticks towards the afternoon service, church members begin taking their positions for the service. Barefooted visitors are escorted to a courtyard where the senior elders are gathered. An elder guides the visitors in a single file, everything has to be conducted in an orderly manner.
 |
| Female members of the sect follow proceedings at the annual passover on Sabbath day |
Dignitaries, including Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere are also present.
Towards the east is a building housing St Noah Taguta, he will emerge from there when the service is underway. Due to the large numbers in attendance, some congregates are likely to leave the holy city without setting eyes on the saint.
Finally, as congregates sit in a massive oval shape with men and women on different sides, a sea of white garments, rods and clean shaven heads is formed.
 |
| An elder reads from the Bible during the afternoon service |
As St Noah walks to take his place, some church members fall into a trance upon catching a glimpse of him. A woman rushes towards the revered leader, catching the elders unaware.
By the moment they recover from the surprise, she is only a few meters away from the reach of St Noah but some church members whisk her away. Is it a demon or the desire to at least touch the garment of the saint?
Noone answers that question.
While some prophets, including those coming from as far as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Malawi take turns to give sermons, St Noah only leads the gathering in song and follows proceedings like everyone else.
 |
| Men , amongst them Minister of Local Government, Public works and Urban Development Cde Saviour Kasukuwere (circled) follow proceedings at the annual passover last week – Pictures by Edmore Muzerengi |
A large number also throngs the courtyard to see the woman who attempted to touch the saint’s garment. Her whereabouts are kept a secret.
 |
| St Noah Taguta leads members of the Johane Marange Apostolic Sect in song during a Passover Conference at Mafararikwa, Bocha last week |
