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Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
A huge crowd converged yesterday at the Anglican Cemetery at St Mary’s Parish in Chitungwiza to bid farewell to Bishop Jonathan Siyachitema who died on Friday last week.
Bishop Siyachitema (90) was accorded a State-assisted funeral by President Mnangagwa.
Speakers described him as a devout Christian who sacrificed for the church.
Father Kingstone Kajakata of St Paul’s Marlborough Parish, described Bishop Siyachitema as a man who was committed to mentoring church members, his family and other church leaders.
“I have known him as a principled man who communicated well with the family and the church. He was humorous, he was a family man and we will continue to guide his family.
“He lost most of his children and wife during these Covid-19 times. He was fortunate to know that his time has come so he equipped his daughter and the church as well.
“I had a chance to interact with him especially as we got closer to his days. He was one man who was prepared for his time,” he said.
The bishop’s eldest daughter, Mrs Florence Siyachitema Maruza, said her father was loving and responsible for the welfare of the family.
“My father was a priest and a bishop as well. He was a fantastic father to the four of us . He was a father who was very loving and he treated us equally. We reached our best even in education. He did very well in order to get the best for us.
“He taught us to play our part even in community work, even in national issues responsibly. The church plays a great part in shaping our nation by become a voice of neutrality,” she said.
Bishop Siyachitema’s niece Vivian Mandindo said the death was a big loss to the family.
“We were close to him, he was a caring and nurturing father who loved his family abundantly. He not only helped his relatives, but anyone who needed him. He taught us all to love and give to those who were in need. He was a symbol of unity to the entire family,” said Ms Mandindo.
Church members also described him as a God-fearing man who did his duties well and provide good leadership skills to other bishops.
Mrs Angellah Murindagomo said they lost a hero and a great leader whose qualities cannot be replaced.
“Thousands of people attended the funeral service and burial. We had lost a heroine and a great leader, he was a good motivator and mentor, the diocese and the nation as a whole will miss him and his works.
Bishop Siyachitema was born in 1932 and educated at Sarum College.
His pastoral work began when he trained at Salisbury Theological College in the United Kingdom in 1969 and was ordained as a priest at St Mary’s Bristol and returned to the then Rhodesia in 1971 to work as a priest at St Andrew’s, Mpopoma, up to 1976.
He became the first Black Dean at St Mary’s Cathedral from 1976 to 1981 and was also the founding Bishop of the Lundi, now Diocese of Central Zimbabwe from 1981 to 1996. Bishop Siyachitema also served as president of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches from 1978 to 1998.
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