Africa University is a "private, Pan-African and United Methodist-related institution." In 2021 it had over 2,500 students from 31 African countries, of whom 58 percent were women and 24 percent came from outside Zimbabwe
The development of Africa University is a consequence of the growth of United Methodism in Africa. The growth in membership and the emerging socio-economic and political needs in their countries led the African Bishops of the United Methodist Church (UMC) to call on their Church to invest in higher education provision in Africa.