PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday described the late Archbishop Ezekiel Guti as a voice of reason and champion of peace during a send-off ceremony held at the National Sports stadium.
Guti, the founder of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga), passed away in South Africa on July 5 aged 100.
His church declared a month of mourning before his burial and yesterday’s event was attended by thousands of Zaoga members.
Guti was declared a national hero.
“In our departed national hero Guti, we have lost a faithful servant of God, a great leader and an advocate of justice,” Mnangagwa said.
“He was a unifier, and a man of deep faith and conviction whose life was a testament to the power of love, compassion and forgiveness.
“We are gathered here to send off an ambassador of hope, a beacon of light and a voice of reason.”
Guti founded the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University and the Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Harare.
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“In so doing, he ensured the church played its part towards a higher quality of life for our people,” Mnangagwa said.
“He championed countless initiatives to empower many families, promoted education and health care and created opportunities for all, particularly the marginalised.
“His unflinching devotion to the well-being of fellow compatriots and the body of Christ in general has left an indelible mark in our nation.”
Baba Guti, as he was affectionately known, leaves behind more than 70 years of evangelism.
Zaoga transnational arm, Forward in Faith Ministries is found in more than 168 countries with over three million members, making the church one of the largest pentecostal movements in Africa.
