A sleek and shiny silver Mercedes Benz made its way into the parking lot at a lodge in Mutoko drawing the attention of people milling outside.
by JAIROS SAUNYAMA
Two familiar faces disembarked and these were none other than Mathias and Mildred Madzivanzira, also known as M&M.
The couple is known for being the founders of the once popular Mathias and Mildred Ministries — a Pentecostal denomination that had one of the biggest followings in the early 2000s.
Upon arriving at the lodge, the couple headed straight inside where they met top Zanu PF officials who were in Mutoko district for a tour of companies as well as a rally at Chitekwe business centre.
The couple is now living a quiet life and spending much of their time in rural Makosa where they are into gold mining.
Their gold milling plant close to the business centre cannot be ignored by passers-by.
The equipment inside and scores of workers at the site denotes a couple that is into serious business with their operations hectic enough to keep them away from the public.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Apart from the milling plant and carbon in pulp (CIP), they also have a mine in the gold-rich area of Makaha and are operating under the name Milmath Mining Company.
The plant can process more than 300 tonnes of gold ore per day.
“We heard people gossiping that we are now doing this, we are now into gold,” Mildred said.
“The truth is that we sold our fuel outlet, M&M Service Station, in Ruwa and invested in mining. It worked.”
The service station is now owned by Sakunda Holdings trading as Puma.
“I am a lawyer, but we are now into mining, that’s how it is,” said Mathias.
The Zanu PF youth league top brass led by Pupurai Togarepi visited the area recently seeking business opportunities whereby young people are set to supply the mining company with raw materials such as cyanide or mercury, among other things.
Togarepi hailed the couple for agreeing to work with the youths who will be supplying the company with raw materials, among other things.
The couple then donated 50 goats to the youths in a move meant to empower them.
However, the couple knows no peace as artisanal miners have invaded their claim while those located around are refusing to vacate despite the company pledging alternative accommodation for them.
The gold-rich area of Makaha in Mudzi has become the latest hub for miners with Chinese companies also mining the precious mineral in the area.
Although they have found new love in gold mining, Mathias and Mildred are still steering their gospel ministry that has its headquarters in Harare.
“The ministry is alive, it never died. Some think that we are no longer ministering, but that is not true,” Mildred said.
“Last year we held a Christmas function here (Makosa) and believers came.
“The church is there. We do not have branches and we never had any — we just go to other areas for crusades.”
Mathias and his wife were popular between 2005 and 2009 for performing miracle healings where thousands of people attended their Pentecostal church services for deliverance.
This also led to the sprouting of a number of ministries with believers flocking to get assistance.
Though the couple courted controversy during their heydays in gospel circles, their new-found love and life in the rural areas of Mashonaland East is a marvel.
Their neat house and offices at the milling company is a sign of a couple that is living a wealthy life though age is now catching up with them.
