BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom - A Zimbabwean Pastor reported missing by his wife has been found dead in the loft of their home in Birmingham, England.

Ruvimbo Muchemwa’s wife raised the alarm on Tuesday evening after returning home to find his car was not in the garage, and he was also not there.

When he did not return that night, she called the police who found his vehicle two blocks away from their property in Bartleygreen, Birmingham, the next morning.

After police discovered his car keys in the clothes that he had discarded in the house, a full search was conducted and his body was recovered from the loft.

Friends of the pastor, who led services at the Christian Faith Church, which he founded, said he suffered depression after a serious back injury forced him to give up work as a teacher.

“His life became a struggle after the injury and he was always heavily medicated just to get by. Some of us were concerned by the amount of pain-killing medication he was taking, and feared something like this would eventually happen,” a friend told New Zimbabwe.com.

Muchemwa, who was married with two children, worked as a teacher in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central, before moving to England more than 10 years ago.

“Since then, he has been struggling through pain and had to take pain killing medication just to do the most mundane chores. Sometimes he would go to sleep, then struggle to get up in the morning because of intense pain.

“The medication had a strange effect on him. Sometimes he would just start laughing like someone high on cannabis. But mostly, he complained of depression and being unable to go to work, as well as being unable to grow his church.”

On Tuesday, Muchemwa is said to have called his wife to say he would not be able to pick up their children from school. That was the last time she spoke to him.

Mazivisa, a friend of the pastor, wrote: “Revelation 14:13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!’ REST IN PEACE Pastor Ruvimbo Muchemwa.”

Tapiwa Matonhodze said: “‎Pastor Ruvimbo Muchemwa I can't believe it. You were such an inspiration to me, and always there for me in my time of need, so genuine and easy to talk to. R.I.P, you will be sorely missed.”

By Staff reporter and agencies