Pastor Salome Mwabi Mwanza - Zagabe

The Life of Salome Mwabi Mwanza

Salome Mwabi Mwanza was born on 5 December 1969 at Queen Elizabeth II Central Hospital in Blantyre. Her early life, up to the age of six, was spent at Partridge Avenue in Limbe.

Later, when her father moved to Zomba to be the first Malawian Principal of Chancellor College, she did her early schooling at Sir Harry Johnston, followed by stints at Bishop Mackenzie in Lilongwe and Hillview Primary School in Limbe.

In 1980, her father moved the family to Nairobi to work for the United Nations where Salome continued her Primary and Secondary education at Loreto Convent school.

She completed her A-levels at Padworth College in Reading, England and commenced her University studies at University of Warwick in Coventry, England. She later transferred to North Eastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where she qualified with a bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration.

Though she studied business, her true passion was theology and bible knowledge. She subsequently went to Rhema Bible Training College in Tulsa Oklahoma where she obtained a Master’s degree in Theology and Bible Studies and was ordained Pastor Salome.

After Rhema, she married Mr Pacific Zagabe, also an ordained pastor, and they co-founded and co-pastored Seedtime and Harvest Church and Ministries International in Boston, Massachusetts. A lifelong sickle cell sufferer, Pastor Salome saw miracle after miracle manifest in a beautiful life that saw her give birth to two beautiful children. A son named Joshua Pacific and a daughter named Ariannah Zizwani, both whom are well known and familiar to Mzuzu as they went to Mzuzu International Academy. They were subsequently sent to the United States where Ariannah completed her high school studies and went on to university and Joshua completed advanced studies in music composition and production. Joshua Pacific and Ariannah Zizwani are the delights of her life and the brightest jewels in her crown of accomplishments.

We are blessed to have Joshua and his uncle Pamelou Ndiku, who travelled from the USA to be with us today. We are further blessed to have with us the younger brother of Joshua’s father, Mr Olivier Mugo Zagabe, who lives in Mzuzu and teaches at Mzuzu International Academy.

Salome had a talent for languages like her late mother, Lucy Gondwe, and was fluent in Chichewa, English, French, Spanish and passably conversant in German and Tumbuka.

Pastor Salome preached in many crusades, conferences, revivals and women’s retreats in the USA and earned a reputation as a distinguished woman of faith, excellence and wisdom for being a meticulous, dynamic, hardworking and profound teacher of the Word. She was a phenomenal organiser and administrator, a woman of grace, class and distinction and a direct communicator who never spoke with forked tongue.

Back home in Malawi, Pastor Salome was multi-talented and employed her many gifts to serve her local church in Mzuzu, Word Alive Ministries International, in various capacities; at some stage as a patron of the praise team and as a counsellor with a special passion for young adults. She loved ministering to children as well, and, before the advent of Covid-19, she hosted two-hour sessions teaching children dance class every Saturday. Many parents from her church and outside would bring their children to her. During the class, she taught the Word of God and they would dance and sing together. She was full of wisdom in different situations and had a soft spot for young mothers whom she counselled on the importance of love and parental discipline. She also had a heart for the homeless and would often house them in a cottage on the property for free until they got back on their feet and were able to support themselves. Salome founded and sponsored Mimosa Queens, a netball club that fared well in the local league. Her “Shalom! Shalom!” biblical exhortations via Facebook videos encouraged many beyond her immediate reach. Salome’s works gave substance to her faith and were a blessing to many. Within the family, she was the glue that held her cousins connected and in good relationship.

Pastor Salome applied her business education and acumen to great effect and extensive impact as CEO of TechnoDev Services and CEO of Mimosa Court in Mzuzu. She was passionate about development and particularly the community of Mzuzu. Pastor Salome served as a Member of Keep Mzuzu City Clean, Member of Beautification Campaign Steering Committee, Chairperson of Mzuzu Development Trust, Regional Business Women’s Coordinator of FEMCOM as well as Board Member of Women’s Investment Corporation (WINCO).

Pastor Salome is survived by her husband Pacific Zagabe; son Joshua; daughter Ariannah, brother Peter Mwanza Jr, father Peter Mwanza Sr and a host of adoring cousins, aunts and uncles all of whom will desperately miss her wisdom and support in challenging times, her quick sense of humour and her never failing fierce loyalty to and love for family and friends.

Rest in eternal peace our beloved daughter, wife, mother, sister, friend; our rock. Till we meet again.