FAITH NDOU
MASVINGO RURAL-Chief Fortune Charumbira has praised the Roman Catholic Church for its significant contribution to education, peace, unity and community development in the Charumbira area.
Speaking during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Ss. Peter and Paul Bondolfi Mission on Friday, 22 May 2026, Chief Charumbira said the mission had positively transformed generations of people in the area over the past 75 years.
“Everyone in Charumbira village learnt at Catholic schools. I also learnt at Gokomere, a Catholic school as well. At Ss. Peter and Paul Bondolfi Mission, we have stayed together in peace for these 75 years,” said Chief Charumbira.
He commended the Catholic sisters for their humanitarian work in the community, saying they assisted many vulnerable families by paying school fees and examination fees for underprivileged children.
“The sisters became a beacon of hope to many needy families in this area. Sister Chiedza and her team even established (RUDO) Rural Unity for Development Organisation which has been helping communities in Charumbira and Chirumhanzu,” he said.
Chief Charumbira said Catholic mission schools played a major role in improving education standards in the area, estimating that mission schools contributed nearly 70 percent of educational development in the Charumbira community.
He urged Catholic leaders to continue with their developmental and spiritual mission in the area.
“The Roman Catholic Church stands for justice and fairness, and that is why it continues to be respected throughout the country,” he said.
Chief Charumbira added that peace and unity within the Charumbira community had largely been strengthened through the influence of the Catholic mission and its priests, whom he praised for working closely with villagers and promoting harmony.
In a light-hearted moment, he jokingly remarked that with the rate of development taking place at Bondolfi Mission, the institution could one day become “Charumbira University in Bondolfi.”
However, he also noted that unity between church leaders and the community remained important.
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations marked 75 years of evangelism and service by the mission in the region.
