05/09/2026
COMMISSIONING 2026
A GLIMPSE OF COMMISSIONING VENUES SINCE 1980
September 05th, 2026
By Sydney Barson
Since 1980, the commissioning of Salvation Army officers in Zimbabwe has unfolded in a remarkable variety of places.
From primary schools and community halls to university grounds and open-air venues, each location has its own place in the Territory’s spiritual memory.
As we look back, these venues tell a story not only of where officers were commissioned but also of how the Army has carried its mission into different communities and settings over the years.
1. Chitsere Primary School, Mbare
Chitsere Primary School in Mbare was among the venues used for commissioning meetings during the earlier years.
The use of a primary school as a commissioning venue reflects the flexibility of the Army in creating spaces where significant spiritual occasions could be celebrated.
2. Harry Margolis Hall, Milton Park
Harry Margolis Hall, located off Lezard Avenue and now known as Jubilee Christian Centre, was one of the venues used for commissioning in the 1980s. In 1985, it hosted the commissioning of the 'Proclaimers of the Gospel' session.
3. Arcadia Community Hall
Arcadia Community Hall in Arcadia, very close to the OTC, hosted the commissioning of the 'Messengers of Joy' session in 1987 and the 'Ambassadors for Christ' session in 1988.
4. Great Hall, University of Zimbabwe
In 1989, the Great Hall at the University of Zimbabwe became the setting for the commissioning associated with the “Witnesses for Jesus” session.
The use of one of Zimbabwe's prominent academic venues added a distinctive dimension to the occasion, as cadets entered officership under the calling to become witnesses for Christ.
5. City Sports Centre
The commissioning of the 'Followers of Jesus' session in 1991 was held at the 4,000-seater City Sports Centre in Harare.
6. ZANU PF Hall, Harare
Commissioning meetings were also held at the ZANU PF Hall in Harare, popularly remembered as the “shake-shake building.”
The venue hosted commissioning meetings between 1992 and 1997, forming part of a period when commissioning locations continued to shift around the capital.
7. Chombira, Chiweshe Division
In 1998, commissioning moved beyond the conventional urban venues when the “Faithful Intercessors” were commissioned at Chombira in Chiweshe Division during the Great Rural Congress.
The congress was led by the Chief of the Staff and Mrs Commissioner Earl Maxwell, making this a particularly memorable chapter in the Territory's commissioning history.
The occasion also demonstrated that commissioning was not simply an urban event. The Army's rural communities could equally become the setting for this important spiritual milestone.
8. Belvedere Technical Teachers College
In 1999, the commissioning of the 'Forward 2000' session was held at Belvedere Technical Teachers College, followed by the 'Ambassadors of Grace' the following year.
Its inclusion in the commissioning story reflects the continued use of educational institutions and other public facilities as places where the Army gathered to celebrate the commissioning of its officers.
9. Catholic University, Harare
The Harare campus of the Catholic University was another notable commissioning venue.
It was here that the “Defenders of Justice” were commissioned, adding another distinctive location to the Territory's growing list of commissioning memories.
10. Bulawayo Amphitheatre
More recently, the Bulawayo Amphitheatre provided the setting for the commissioning of the “Champions of the Mission” in 2025.
It was remembered as a particularly cold commissioning weekend and the very first in Bulawayo.
11. OTC Graduation Grounds
From around 2002, commissioning venues increasingly became centered at the OTC Graduation Grounds, which subsequently hosted several cadet sessions.
From Chitsere Primary School in Mbare to the OTC Graduation Grounds, these venues form part of the Territory's rich commissioning heritage, each preserving memories of cadets answering the call to officership and being sent into the harvest.
- Salvationist Online
