Harare — THE National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe in partnership with the British Council, Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust and the University of Zimbabwe  on February 17 2010 held a symposium on the lost Ark of the Covenant (Ngoma Lungundu), at the University of Zimbabwe.

The symposium was attended by academics, senior Government officials and representatives of the Lemba/VaRemba community, including people from various religious groups -- Christianity, Judaism, Rastafarian and Islam.

Notable members of the Remba community who were introduced by Gutu North House of Assembly Member Hamandishe Maramwidze, also a Remba, included traditional leaders from Gutu and Mberengwa, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Advocate Eric Matinenga and Chief Hamisi Raulinga from South Africa.

Other notable personalities were gospel music diva Fungisayi Zvakavapano-Mashavave and Reverend Apphiah C Manjoro of Faith World Ministries who is married to Bishop B Manjoro.

At the occasion, Rev Manjoro, who is the Mother General of the Virtuous Women Community, was dressed in a wrapper and her head was covered with a prayer shawl with biblical symbols and she led the gathering in prayer.

The Saturday Herald of February 20 carried a picture of Rev Manjoro wearing the prayer shawl and the caption inadvertently referred to her as a Moslem woman.

The error is regretted and we apologise for the inconvenience caused to her family and her followers.

Rev Manjoro has been a Christian for several decades and has held leadership positions in the church and outside, where her work towards uplifting people's human and spiritual values has been recognised both nationally and internationally.

A teacher by profession since 1969, Rev Manjoro has also been a marriage counsellor since 1975.

She is a graduate from Christ for the Nations (USA), and was ordained a church minister at Christ for the Nations in 1984.

Rev Manjoro also holds a degree in Sacred Theology from Bromwell University in the United States.

She has been a marriage officer under the Government of Zimbabwe's laws since 1994.

In 2004, she was listed in the edition of the contemporary "Who's Who", and she is also affiliated to Christ for the Nations "Fellowship of Ministers and Churches".

Among other accomplishments, in 2009, she was also recognised "Spiritual Leader for the Nation", by the Shekinah Covenant Women of Zimbabwe.

Virtuous Women Community that she founded in 1993 is a Godly-centred community of ladies committed to nurturing faith and spiritual strength that enables ladies to be women of God Almighty.

VWC also believes that, "Jesus is the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary; and that Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead on the third day."

Says Rev Manjoro, "VWC rejuvenates the life of a girl child to womanhood, instilling in her fellowship principles: faith; hope; charity; justice; temperance; prudence; fortitude; prayer and intercession and fasting. We minister love, joy, peace and prosperity in the season of birthing Deborahs and Jaels . . ."

Our motto is: "No to rape; no abuse; no abortion; no baby dumping; no unwanted babies; no sex before marriage; and, condoms do not protect your conscience."

Rev Manjoro said, "I visit Israel very often during the Feast of Tabernacles (September - October)."

The purpose of the symposium was to examine claims by University of London Professor of Jewish Studies Tudor Parfitt that the Ngoma Lungundu, a Remba relic, has strong links to the lost Ark of the Covenant where the Mosaic Law was kept.

The meeting also discussed Prof Parfitt's contention that the Remba are of Jewish origin.