Zimbabwe Baptist leaders killed in auto crash

An Oct. 21 automobile accident claimed the lives of the longtime former president of Zimbabwe Theological Seminary, his son and the seminary’s current president.

Lott Carey—an African American Baptist missions society—reported the deaths of Henry Mugabe, noted theologian and former seminary president; his son Munyaradzi Johannes Mugabe; and Dudzirai Chimeri, seminary president.

The three reportedly were traveling from Harare to Gweru when the crash occurred.

Lott Carey President Gina Stewart praised Mugabe as “a gentle giant” and as “a man of tremendous intellect, … an outstanding theologian and a true ambassador of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Emmett Dunn, executive secretary-treasurer of Lott Carey, called Mugabe “an innovative leader who combined the practical and spiritual in crafting the church’s response to the ills of society.”

Mugabe was “a provocative theologian who believed that the word of God must be interpreted using the lenses of marginalized Africans, and a firm believer in the fight for justice in defending the rights of the indigenous church against foreign intervention,” Dunn continued. “He enters heaven bearing the scars as evidence of his fight for justice.”

Elijah Brown, general secretary and CEO of the Baptist World Alliance, expressed appreciation for the life and ministry of Mugabe, who led the seminary for an extended time during a difficult period.

“Dr. Mugabe was an instrumental leader for theological education for many years, and his faithful service will undoubtedly bear fruit for generations to come through the lives of those he taught,” Brown said. “The entire global Baptist family grieves his death and the death of his son Munyaradzi and Dr. Dudzirai Chimeri.”

In 2011, Mugabe was principal of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe, which was supported by the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. He was fired for refusing to accept changes made to the school’s governing documents—particularly a requirement that academic staff adhere to the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message and its prohibition of women pastors.

When Mugabe refused to meet with a new council the Baptist Convention of Zimbabwe formed to replace the school’s board of trustees, he was locked out of his office and given seven days to move out of his home, owned by the Baptist Mission of Zimbabwe.

Two years later, a labor court ruled he had been improperly dismissed and ordered he be reinstated with back pay. However, he left the school to form the Zimbabwe Theological Seminary, with support from Lott Carey and the Alliance of Baptists.

Mugabe held a Master of Divinity degree and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to his teaching and administrative duties in Zimbabwe, he also taught at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Campbell University’s Divinity School, McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University and Wake Forest University Divinity School.