Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Harare Zimbabwe Temple

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Photo:  Nyasha Shepard Ushewokunze

Palm Trees Planted on the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Grounds

The approach to the Harare Zimbabwe Temple has been greatly beautified by the addition of royal palm trees that have been planted and braced in the garden area between the two housing buildings. Brick is being laid around the body of the steeple. The stake center for the Harare Zimbabwe Stake was razed and additional property was acquired to make way for the new temple complex, located on Enterprise Road in the Highlands neighborhood of Harare.
Photo:  Sechrest Africa South Area Mission

Beautiful Brickwork of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple

A recent photograph of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple shows the beautiful brickwork that has been installed on the exterior surfaces of the temple and the landscape walls. The cream-colored blocks were laid in a running bond pattern with a soldier course along the top beneath the ornamental coping stones. The lighter color of the temple stands apart from the surrounding buildings, distinguishing it as a house of the Lord.
Photo:  Zimbabwe Harare Mission

Three-Year Anniversary of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Groundbreaking

New missionaries arriving in the Zimbabwe Harare Mission last month posed in front of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple, which is anticipated to be completed during their two-year missionary service. A groundbreaking was held for the temple three years ago in December 2020 where His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, praised the Church, saying, "The contribution of the Church to national development and social well being of the citizenry cannot be overemphasized."

Bricklaying Progress on the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Exterior

At the Harare Zimbabwe Temple site, bricklayers have laid a light-colored brick in a running bond pattern along the exterior walls of the temple. The inset window openings feature wide borders and headers. Stained glass will be installed later. Brick and roof work has largely been completed for the other buildings in the temple complex. Construction on the project began 32 months ago.
Photo:  Google

Landscaping Begins on the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Grounds

An updated satellite view of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple grounds shows the first signs of landscaping taking place on the property. Behind the temple, an embankment has been cut for retaining structures that will be used to create a gathering plaza. A cut line is also visible north of the meetinghouse for a parking area. Arrow-shaped excavations between the housing buildings will be used for concrete benches seen in the rendering.
Photo:  Takunda Amos Zenda

Missionary Couple Arrives to Oversee the Harare Zimbabwe Temple

A new missionary couple from Cache Valley in Northern Utah arrived in Harare this month to oversee the construction of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple to completion. Elder and Sister Anderson are thrilled to be serving the Saints of Zimbabwe, preparing them for the day when they will become temple workers and patrons. The major structural components for the temple are in place, and more detailed work is underway.
Photo:  Langton Chidarara

Steeple Frame Added to the Harare Zimbabwe Temple

A white frame for the spire of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple has been installed on top of the concrete steeple body frame. The spire will be white and capped with a slender metal finial. A meetinghouse is being constructed east of the temple. Shingles have been laid for the south wing, and wood trusses have been set for the north wing. The temple is the country's first, and it has been under construction for nearly two years.
Photo:  Langton Chidarara

Structural Work Continues on the Harare Zimbabwe Temple

The eastern surfaces of the concrete structural frame for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple catch the rising sun as another construction day begins at the temple complex. Roof work is making progress on the matching ancillary buildings south of the temple. The roof frame is in place on the eastern building, and shingles have been laid on the western building. A pre-existing fence encloses the construction site.
Photo:  Nigel Ndlovu

Concrete Frame Rising for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple

The concrete frame for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple continues to rise. Columns can been seen for the raised center section that will run from the entry to the back wall. And concrete walls are being poured for the protruding entry that will support a windowed steeple. A pitched roof frame is being installed on one of the ancillary buildings south of the temple.
Photo:  Google

Superstructure Rising for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple

A recent satellite view of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple site shows that the walls and roof are in place for the east half of the temple. Progress is also evident on the accompanying buildings. The outline of interior rooms is visible for the meetinghouse and ancillary building while roof work for the housing facilities is not far off. Harare is the largest and capital city of Zimbabwe with a population of over two million people.
Photo:  Google

Walls Erected for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Housing Buildings

A satellite image taken last month of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple site shows the walls that have been erected for the two housing and services facilities located just south of the temple. Both the exterior and interior walls are in place, giving an idea of the floor plans for the buildings. Work is also advancing on the 17,250-square-foot temple and meetinghouse.
Photo:  Google

Setting Rebar for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Foundations

A tent has been erected at the southwest corner of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple where crews are setting forms and rebar for the concrete that will support the baptismal font. Footing and rebar work is active across the site as preparations are made for major concrete pours including the floor slabs for the multiple buildings under construction. Members in Zimbabwe currently participate in temple ordinance work at the Johannesburg South Africa Temple.
Photo:  Paton Taylor Architects

An Aerial Perspective on the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Site

An aerial photograph of the Harare Zimbabwe Temple site was captured this month, showing the placement of the buildings that will be constructed in the complex. The former stake center and mission office were removed several months ago, and it appears that a replacement meetinghouse will be constructed on the east side of the property. The west side will be for the temple (northwest) and two ancillary buildings (southwest).
Photo:  Langton Chidarara

Trenching the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Site

Trenches are appearing across the Harare Zimbabwe Temple site as crews install conduits, connect to public utilities, and begin forming and pouring footings for the building foundations. The spring weather in Zimbabwe has produced beautiful purple blossoms on the Jacaranda trees that surround the property. The temple is one of four under construction in Africa. The others are the Praia Cape Verde Temple, Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple, and Nairobi Kenya Temple.
Photo:  Paton Taylor Architects

Stake Center and Mission Office Razed at the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Site

The final structures at the Harare Zimbabwe Temple site have come down including the stake center, which was demolished in June, and the mission office, which started coming down in July. Preliminary concept renderings showed that these two buildings would remain, but it appears that the decision was made to replace them with new facilities that would be built at the same time as the temple and other supporting buildings.
Photo:  Google

Dirt Mound Forms at the Harare Zimbabwe Temple Site

A barrel-shaped mound has formed on the northern end of the site for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple. Ground was formally broken in December, and site work began about three months later. The property was cleared of vegetation by the end of April, and grading began in May. The land around the existing meetinghouse has also been cleared including removal of the parking lot and landscaping. The 17,250-square-foot temple will be constructed in the area of the mound alongside two supporting Church facility buildings.
Photo:  Ministry of Information Publicity & Broadcasting Services of Zimbabwe

Groundbreaking Event Held for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple

Elder Edward Dube, a native of Zimbabwe and first counselor in the Africa South Area presidency, presided at the groundbreaking for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple on Saturday, December 12, 2020. His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, was also in attendance. President Mnangagwa praised the Church in his remarks, saying, "The contribution of the Church to national development and social well being of the citizenry cannot be overemphasized." In his site dedicatory prayer, Elder Dube said, "As we watch the rising of this building from the ground up, may we also turn our hearts upward to Thee and Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ." The single-level, 17,250-square-foot temple will be built on a 6.7-acre site in the Highlands area of Harare.
Photo:  Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

December Groundbreaking Announced for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple

Ground will be broken for the Harare Zimbabwe Temple, the first in the country, in December 2020. Presiding at the event will be Elder Edward Dube of the presidency of the Africa South Area. The single-level, 17,250-square-foot temple will be built on a 6.7-acre site next to an existing meetinghouse located at 65 Enterprise Road in the Highlands neighborhood of Zimbabwe. During a visit to Zimbabwe in 2018, President Russell M. Nelson said: "You deserve a temple here in Harare because that’s where we get the highest of all the blessings that God can give to His faithful children. I want to be here to see that happen."