Key points:
- Rosemary Nyarugwe, the first woman principal of The United Methodist Church’s Nyadire College of Education, left her mark on the higher education landscape in Africa.
- “She opened the doors to many women who realized they could do bigger things,” Bishop Gift K. Machinga said.
- As president of the African Association of Methodist Institutions of Higher Education, Nyarugwe was a strong advocate for quality education in United Methodist schools.
Rosemary Nyarugwe, a United Methodist and principal of the church’s Nyadire College of Education, is being remembered as a renowned educator, a prayerful widow who inspired and uplifted other women, and a hardworking church leader.
Nyarugwe, 64, who died peacefully at her Harare home June 22 after a long battle with cancer, was the first female principal of The United Methodist Church’s sole teacher training college in Zimbabwe. She served at the school — housed at the church’s Nyadire Mission — for more than a decade.
“When we remember her, we think of emancipation of women, hard work and a high level of commitment and dedication to God and the church,” said Bishop Gift K. Machinga, who leads the Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana Episcopal Area. He knew Nyarugwe for three decades. “She opened the doors to many women who realized they could do bigger things.”
Through sheer determination, Nyarugwe rose from primary school teacher to college principal and chair of the African Association of Methodist Institutions of Higher Education, a membership association of United Methodist higher education institutions in Africa.
“Nyarugwe was a leader par excellence, characterized by her faith, service and focus,” said the Rev. Peter Mageto, vice chancellor of Africa University and secretary of the African Association of Methodist Institutions of Higher Education.
“She was an achiever in many ways who took keen interest on collaborations that would transform individuals and corporates. May her legacy live on,” he said.
Nyadire College is an affiliate college of Africa University. In response to the needs of full-time teachers unable to pursue conventional university study, the two institutions partnered to offer a subsidized Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Development. Nyadire administers the program under AU’s academic oversight, with the degree conferred by Africa University and approved by the AU Senate. The collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to expanding access to quality teacher education in the region.
The Rev. Beauty R. Maenzanise, an executive with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, knew Nyarugwe for 10 years.
“I observed her leadership throughout the years as a strong advocate for quality education in United Methodist institutions of higher education. She was easy to work with because she respected other people’s opinions and worked together to perfect them,” Maenzanise said. “Her legacy will remain alive in the hearts of those who crossed paths with her both in church and academia.”
Nyarugwe’s friends spanned the world, including partners from The Nyadire Connection, a faith-based nonprofit founded by individuals from a network of United Methodist churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference. The Pittsburgh-based nonprofit has been in partnership with the church’s Nyadire Mission community for two decades.
“We considered her a good friend as well as a devout Christian. We will remember her as a dedicated educator and a savvy administrator,” said Ralph Duckworth, Nyadire Connection chairperson. “She greatly expanded the college’s curriculum and attracted many new students. She turned the college into a premier educational institution.”
The Rev. Jamisse Taimo of Mozambique, executive director of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) Hub for Lusophone Africa, said Nyarugwe shared her gifts freely.
“She was a visionary who shared her knowledge about education and her commitment to The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and beyond.”
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Under Nyarugwe’s leadership, the college became renowned for its early childhood development teacher training.
The Rev. Jairous Mafondokoto, administrative assistant to Bishop Machinga, was the acting principal when Nyarugwe joined Nyadire College.
“She was very keen on developing training for early childhood (kindergarten) teachers. I then asked her to work on getting the ministry approval and it was done,” he said.
Mafondokoto recommended Nyarugwe to be his successor because he noticed she had an eye for development. “Some of the ideas which she accomplished transformed Nyadire. There has been a great change in infrastructure,” he said.
Nyadire Mission station chairperson the Rev. Lancelot Mukundu, who knew Nyarugwe from a prayer group they both belonged to in Harare, also praised Nyarugwe’s passion for development.
“With Nyarugwe, nothing was impossible when it came to infrastructure development and projects implementation,” he said.
Mukundu touted the construction of a 2,000-seat multipurpose arena at the college, a state-of-the-art early childhood development training complex, a 23-bedroom college guest house and business units involved in production, butchery, fishing and farming.
He said under Nyarugwe’s leadership the college realized a 100% pass rate for more than 15 years, producing highly competent, disciplined and reliable primary school teachers on behalf of the Zimbabwe government.
The Rev. David Bishau knew Nyarugwe since 1992 and they worshipped together at Glen Norah St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Harare, where she served as lay leader.
“I will never forget her team-building skills and how she added a lot of value in my own leadership,” he said, calling her a loving, faithful, dedicated and pious leader.
He said he enjoyed serving with her as fellow delegates to the World Methodist Council.
“I saw her rise from an ordinary primary school teacher to the principal of a teachers’ college that she was fast turning into a university. If it had not been for her, Nyadire teachers’ college would not have reached the dizzy heights it reached,” Bishau said.
Before taking on the role of principal, Nyarugwe taught at various schools in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and served as lecturer at Seke Teachers College.
“We will remember Nyarugwe as a distinguished Zimbabwean educationist, administrator and church leader who made significant contributions to teacher education and community development in Zimbabwe,” said Alexander Katiyo, vice principal of Nyadire College of Education.
Nyarugwe also served as a district lay leader and chair of Church and Society in the Zimbabwe West Conference.
“Through these roles, she promoted Christian leadership, social responsibility, education and community transformation,” Katiyo said. “Her leadership fostered partnerships between educational institutions, churches, communities and other stakeholders to improve learning opportunities and educational infrastructure.”
Former Zimbabwe West Conference lay leader Shadreck Mataruka worked with Nyarugwe when she was a district lay leader.
“She actually brought a lot of change to Mutoko Mudzi District and regularly invited me to go and see what she was doing. She was humble and dependable. Her death is a big loss,” Mataruka said. “Whatever she did, she did from the heart.”
Nyarugwe, who was widowed in 2001, singlehandedly raised her children ensuring they got the best education possible. She also advanced her education up to a doctoral degree.
Rebecca Tendai Gurupira, who coordinates The United Methodist Church’s Ministry with Women, Children and Youth, remembers Nyarugwe as a courageous and hardworking woman. She interacted with Nyarugwe on empowerment programs under Church and Society, where they worked together on grant proposals.
“I salute her as a heroine who represented women and widows well. Last year, I invited her to present a topic at the International Widows Day commemorations. I wanted her to show widows that they were able to raise families on their own like she did after her husband died,” she said.
Nyarugwe is survived by daughters Sinikiwe, Sharon and Patience, son Mike and 12 grandchildren. She will be interred at her rural home in Chure, Uzumba District, on June 27.
Chikwanah is a UM News correspondent based in Harare, Zimbabwe.
News media contact: Julie Dwyer at [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest.
