Au Today - Winter 2021

Africa University Vice Chancellor Munashe Furusa dies

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100% SUPPORT

so doing, to transform Africa,” Muyombo said.

“He was a mentor and a teacher, and as all great leaders do, he awakened this same spirit in us and helped us to hone our innate talents and project into the world the very best of who we are and what we are capable of.”

Furusa served as dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at California State University, Dominquez Hills, before being named vice chancellor at Africa University. He held a Doctor of Philosophy degree in African Literature and Critical Theory, a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts Honors in English, all from the University of Zimbabwe, as well as a diploma in education from Bondolfi Teachers College in Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

The world has lost a great friend, said Lisa Tichenor, the chair of the Africa University (Tennessee) corporation and a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church, Dallas.

“Furusa cared greatly about advancing the university in its educational capabilities and developed the necessary leadership to achieve this. He attended to individual students and staff, creating an atmosphere of family among all of us whose lives he touched,” she said.

Professor Peter Mageto, who was named the acting vice chancellor by the Africa University Board, said online learning was one of Furusa’s innovations. Mageto previously served as the Continued on page 2...

Thank you for investing at 100 percent in the Africa University Fund in 2020.

The Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church with a 100 percent or more remittance to the AUF apportionment over the past two years are: North Central Jurisdiction Dakotas East Ohio Illinois Great Rivers Indiana Iowa West Ohio Jurisdiction Total Support

2020 100% 100% 100% 100%

Northeastern Jurisdiction Baltimore-Washington Eastern Pennsylvania Greater New Jersey

2020 100% 100%

100% 90.5%

2019 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 91.33% 2019 100% 100%

New England New York Peninsula-Delaware Susquehanna Upper New York West Virginia Western Pennsylvania Jurisdiction Total Support

100% 100.34% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 96.11%

100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 98.82%

South Central Jurisdiction Oklahoma Indian Missionary Jurisdiction Total Support

2020 100% 74.18%

2019 100% 78.24%

Southeastern Jurisdiction Florida North Alabama North Carolina

2020 100% 100% 100%

2019 100% 100% 100%

Red Bird Missionary South Carolina Tennessee Virginia Jurisdiction Total Support

100% 100% 100% 102.91% 90.97%

108.76% 100% 100% 100% 93.26%

Western Jurisdiction Alaska United Methodist California Nevada California Pacific Desert Southwest Mountain Sky Oregon Idaho Pacific Northwest Jurisdiction Total Support

2020 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99.93%

2019 100% 100%

100% 100% 100% 93.82%

Winter 2021

rofessor Munashe Furusa, Africa University’s fourth vice chancellor, died suddenly Jan. 13. He was 59.

Stephene Chikozho, Africa University director of advancement and public affairs, said Furusa was taken to Victoria Chitepo Hospital in the early hours of Jan. 13 and died a few hours later.

Furusa, who became vice chancellor in 2014, was shaped by his experience as the first person in his family to obtain a higher education degree. He is remembered as a champion for educational access for underprivileged students and an important voice for United Methodist-related higher education.

North Katanga Area Bishop Mande Muyombo, Africa University board chair, said the best way to honor Furusa is to continue his legacy.

“He strove to build Africa University and in

Africa University Today — Winter 2021

Alumni Profile: Allen Zomonway

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llen Zomonway, a registered nurse and the hospital administrator at Ganta United Methodist Mission in Liberia, holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from AU. He recently earned a master’s degree in Leadership from Oklahoma City University in the United States.

Liberia’s already-high unemployment rate has been compounded by the pandemic.

Focusing on community health, Allen ensures that the entire staff, from medical doctors to cleaners, continue to navigate the challenges presented by this pandemic. As of January 15, 2021, Worldometer reported Liberia having 1,878 cases, 84 deaths, with 1,170 recoveries.

As COVID-19 cases are diagnosed, patients are referred to county health isolation centers.

“Diversified support,” Zomonway said, “has helped strengthen our infection prevention and control measures, positioning Ganta Hospital as a providential safety net.”

However, in the last few months, the

pandemic has increased the shortage of infection prevention control supplies, especially gloves and masks.

“These supplies are being searched for from individuals because they are no more available in the pharmacies,” he explained. “If they are found the cost is four times the original price.

“Most hospitals are practically not functioning because of the shortage of medicine and medical supplies. Ganta Hospital is still active because we have a strong drug revolving fund that the government and other private hospitals are learning from us. This is strictly keeping the fund for medicines and medical supplies for that purpose.”

Furusa Inspired Students, Staff...continued.

Africa University, but also to the broader academic circle of Zimbabwe. His exemplary career path and his contributions to the Africa University community will serve as an inspiration to the staff, students and alumni who were fortunate enough to have benefited from his leadership — more so, the alumni from Kenya-Ethiopia Annual Conference.

Alumnus Anderson Ilunga Nkimba Nkasa of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, agreed. “As the entire African continent community, we mourn this loss of one of Africa’s precious sons, who advocated for the education and the training of African young leaders for the future sustainability of African development,” he said.

Furusa was buried in his home village of Nhema in Shurugwi in southern Zimbabwe.

He is survived by his wife, Zanele, daughter Charlotte and sons Osborne, Tanaka and Munashe (Junior).

university’s deputy vice chancellor.

“As we mourn a great leader who inspired, motivated and moved all of us to become the best versions of ourselves, we cherish the memories, transformative work and powerful moments that we were honored to share with him,” he said.

The Rev. Greg Bergquist, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, called Furusa “an extraordinary champion for educational access and an important voice for United Methodistrelated higher education.”

Alumni offered their condolences. Gad Maiga, who graduated from Africa University in 2016, described Furusa as “a shining star.”

“He was an incredible asset not only to

Eveline Chikwanah and Kathy L. Gilbert, UM News, Jan. 14, 2021, with Barbara Dunlap-Berg

Hospital Administrator Allen Zomonway and staff consider inventory at Ganta United Methodist Mission Hospital, Ganta, Liberia.

Zomonway said the nurse aides, nurses and doctors are skilled and confident, building upon their experience from Ebola, coupled with their institutionalized infectionprevention and control measures.

How You Can Help ocated at Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, Africa University is an accredited United Methodist-related educational institution in Africa, established by action of the General Conference. The university offers degree programs in three colleges: Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CHANS); Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance (CBPLG); and Social Sciences, Theology, Humanities and Education (CSSTH&E). New academic programs include master’s and doctoral degree programs in military chaplaincy, migration, citizenship and refugee protection; and entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity.

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Africa University continues to be the evidence of faith, hope and belief in the visions of dreamers. Thank you for investing in changed lives and communities!

Encourage your church to set a 100 percent apportionment remittance goal. Sending a portion of your goal each month makes it easier to reach full remittance by year’s end. Your church’s generosity ensures 100 percent support of Africa University’s operational budget for costs such as utilities, equipment and faculty salaries.

Continued next page.

How you can help... continued.

Dr. Kent Weeks: Trailblazer and ‘bucket filler’ Family honors beloved husband and father with a $120,000+ gift for the Kent and Karen Weeks Endowed Scholarship Fund at Africa University.

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Filling everyone’s buckets” was important to attorney and educator Dr. Kent McCuskey Weeks, 82, who died last July in Nashville, Tennessee.

Eldest son Kevin M. Weeks explained, “My father thought of complex negotiations and navigating different traditions as ‘filling everyone's buckets’ as much as possible. Dad was a big believer that you can find creative ways of honoring everyone’s interests.”

During Weeks’ early involvement with Africa University, he specialized in higher education. He gave structure to the idea of a United Methodist university for all of Africa, crafting the legal blueprint and guiding the creation of the legal entities that remain today.

Weeks helped draft the legislation that the Parliament of Zimbabwe approved, permitting the first private university to operate in the southern African nation. His connection as general counsel of AU lasted more than 20 years.

Practicing law in Nashville and teaching at Vanderbilt University, Weeks focused on legal issues affecting higher education.

He consulted with colleges throughout the

United States, but his work with Africa University was his greatest professional passion.

In 2015, Weeks and his wife, Karen H. Weeks, established an endowed scholarship fund to support at least one Africa University student annually in perpetuity and an ongoing project to preserve the history of The United Methodist Church in Africa. In his honor, the university named the library’s Kent M. Weeks History and Archives Hall.

Recently, the Weeks family added a gift of more than $120,000 to the Kent and Karen Weeks Endowed Scholarship Fund. “We hope these gifts help Africa University students reach their fullest potential,” Kevin Weeks said. “Our family is grateful to be able to honor him in this way.”

James Salley, Africa University Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, described Weeks as “a trailblazer in higher education from a global perspective, an intellect and scholar” whose “gifts enabled AU and other institutions to move into international advancement. The greatest need at Africa University is student scholarships. A scholarship from the Weeks endowment enables a person from Africa to help change Africa and the world.”

Consider these additional ways of helping the university educate new leaders for the nations of Africa: Planned Gifts— The foundation for the long-term survival of Africa University. As you make your estate plans, consider leaving a gift or bequest to Africa University in your will. If you have already included the university in your estate plans, please let us know so we may welcome you to the Richard E. “Dick” Reeves Legacy Society.

Usahwira — This word in the Shona language means “a beautiful friendship.” Encourage your local church to become a partner with Africa University by supporting one student for four years. The annual cost of supporting one undergraduate student is just under $6,000. Local churches and individuals may provide full or partial scholarships.

Endowment Fund — Give to the Africa University Endowment Fund (World Service Special Gift #03-0188). The interest income from the endowment provides scholarships for our students.

For more information about giving opportunities or to make a gift, visit us at support-africauniversity.org.

To learn about Africa University and its impact, visit africau.edu.

Let’s work together to continue the transformation of lives and of Africa. To download resources to help tell the story of the Africa University Fund apportionment, visit: umcgiving.org/auf and/or the resources page at support-africauniversity.org. Current resources include: • Africa University Virtual Worship

Dream Farm Trust Production Continues

• Usahwira (brochure)

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n December 2020, Africa University celebrated the amazing staff of its Dream Farm Trust, recognizing individual and collective excellence and service to the institution, its community and the region of Manicaland at the annual Farm Worker of the Year Awards.

Categorized as essential services, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the university farm adapted its business model offering door-to-door deliveries to ensure that families retained access to fresh and nutritious food and to also keep supermarkets in the City of Mutare well stocked with farm fresh produce. Farm activities did not cease and operations continue full throttle today,

• Africa University: The School of Hope (video)

• AU in a Nutshell (presentation)

despite extended national lockdown restrictions.

The farm’s activities in the poultry, wheat farming, and dairy industries are impeccable.

It has achieved added value by exploring and upscaling its beef production and butchery output. Committed staff, major partners and sponsors are the reasons the Africa University Dream Farm thrives and continues strong.

Adapted from a story by Jeanette Dadzie

Africa University Development Office P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007 (615) 340-7438 Fax: (615) 340-7290 audevoffice@gbhem.org www.support-africauniversity.org

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Africa University Today — Winter 2021

Serving Community and Sharing the Love of God Elizabeth and McNair Copeland keep service at the forefront of their daily lives. They spend time meeting the needs of community members and organizations in meaningful ways.

As we all pivoted to new manners of caring for the welfare of others and ourselves, the Copelands adjusted how they provide a myriad of services. Mrs. Copeland and her husband know it is important to share the love of God, as she says, “in any possible way.”

At the onset of the health crisis, Elizabeth joined a team making masks for the local hospitals. She and McNair also spend time supporting local caregivers, providing transportation for medical appointments, tutoring students and holding virtual fundraisers. Most recently, they have spent time preparing homes for families through Habitat for Humanity, where Mrs. Copeland serves as the board chair.

Sharing the love of God extends to the Copeland’s support of Africa University.

In 2018, Mrs. Copeland made a planned gift for the future of Africa University. She recalls hearing of Africa University from Carrie Goddard, a professor at Scarritt College who was a strong promoter of a university for the continent of Africa. As a Christian educator, this idea resonated with her.

With students from more than half of the countries in Africa, the Copelands recognize the value of diversity and appreciate that students can gain the experience of an education in a Christian environment. Through their support, Elizabeth and McNair Copeland are ensuring that Africa University students are prepared to lead in their professions, identify and address the greatest community need, and share the love of God.

The AU Today is published by the Africa University Development Office, in partnership with the Office of Communications, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).

For more information, contact the: Africa University Development Office P.O. Box 340007 Nashville, TN 37203-0007 Tel: Fax: Email:

(615) 340-7438 (615) 340-7290 audevoffice@gbhem.org support-africauniversity.org.