
The Secondary School we were visiting lies almost at the heart of the country of Zimbabwe, some 20km north of Chivhu. As Matthias and myself bounced down the dirt track, avoiding dips and gullies and potholes and rocks, he explained to me the veneration of Arthur Shearly Cripps, an early missionary.
We passed the turnoff to a shrine dedicated to him, where thousands of pilgrims would gather each August, coming from many regions and countries beyond the borders. Shearly Cripps is recognised as a modern saint, in the genre of Mother Teresa and others.
We were heading for the school which is located on the enormous tract of land which was donated to the church on his death.
Cripps was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1869, which immediately caught my interest given that Tunbridge Wells is our local home town – proves that something good can come out of there! He was educated at Oxford, and trained for the Anglican priesthood. He came out to Mashonaland after reading a criticism of Cecil Rhodes, and from 1902 he settled in the parish we were now travelling through, then called Enkeldoorn.
What marked him out is that he came into conflict with the colonial government over land distribution, taking the side of the African population. He was given the Shona name Mpandi, or “The man who walks like thunder.” Possibly a clear indication of his stride and approach to walks!
He established his mission station at the site of Maronda Mashanu, which means “The Five Wounds” in the local language (reference to the five wounds of Christ). He died in 1952 and is buried in the chancel of the church at the site.
Many people from the area and beyond believe that Arthur Cripps performed miracles, and visitors to the shrine will often bring requests for miracles. Quite a legacy.

In our case, the School of Maronda Mashanu itself is in need of a miracle. However, it might very well have one in the shape of its Head, Mr Douglas Mazumba, a man with a sharp gaze and active mind with a determination to improve the school. Apparently their exam results are topping the regional leaderboards, pushing against more highly placed schools in the towns. It comprises over 200 students of both genders, and extensive brick built classes constructed around a central grassy courtyard.
The school is sited on the edge of a gentle attractive valley, with a view northwards over the granite outcrops. Granite. My heart sank. Never a great place to find water. Currently they have one small well, which dries up in the dry season. A previous attempt at drilling a borehole on the property failed at 80m. The students have to walk 1 km to fetch water at the moment. All of this limits both the ability to sufficiently care for the existing students (especially the girls), and the opportunity to expand.

The Head has a determination to offer technical and vocational skills as well, but these require water for irrigation of lands, and livestock (like pigs, chickens, etc). New toilets have been installed, but the lack of water again prevents proper flushing, so they are not being utilised.
The great news, we were able to inform them, is that the drilling rig would hopefully arrive soon after I leave (seems my visit is the holdup of this project!) The site had already been identified using geophysics, lower in the valley, and would pump water to a tank on the rise behind the school. A distribution network including 3 taps would be provided, all subject to a sufficient yield.
This is precisely the type of project that we want to engage in and to see succeed. The group of men who met with us, including the Rector, Fr Kefas, and other dignitaries were clearly excited at what might happen, and possibilities which could be fulfilled. Imagine free clean running water! Although the green fields and puddles from recent rain suggested an abundance of water, I was firmly told of the dire situation when the rains are finished in April, and the heat and dryness set in.
Water is the basis for so much. Trying to imagine school children having to collect their own water to flush, clean, wash, drink was tough. And there are additional benefits for the community who will have access to fresh groundwater and supplementary food.
Now we just have to drill and find the water! Our Contractors are ready to mobilise and the agreements are in place. One of the A-Team will have to supervise.
All we can do now is to pray for one of the miracles from Arthur Shearly Cripps to find water in the unforgiving granite terrain. After all, he is buried nearby and would surely appreciate what we are doing.
Thanks for reading and your support. Tomorrow I will travel onwards to Gokwe where we have completed a borehole, successfully, which has allowed a new school to be opened. I love these adventures!
Sandy Elsworth 23 January 2025
Interesting hearing about Arthur crisps- slightly depressing that in Tunbridge wells there is now a very large property law company named Cripps… I feel the real Cripps might have been quite annoyed by that but very happy with what you and the team are doing at his old missionary station!