Sundaymail Editor
Leroy Dzenga
Senior Writer
His voice is synonymous with major national events, especially funerals.
Presiding over some of the most sombre moments the country has ever experienced, Colonel Joseph Nyakudya exudes hope with each assignment.
He is the man who has diligently provided spiritual guidance to the country’s army from 1987, rising through the ranks to become the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ first-ever Chaplain-General. He describes his journey, which began in Chiweshe on June 12, 1957 when he was born, as a demonstration of God’s benevolence.
Born of a pastor, Col Nyakudya said he did not want to be like his father, who was not a man of means.
“I attended Gweshe Primary and proceeded to Bradley Institute which was being run by the Salvation Army. I started my secondary school a month later than everyone because the funds were unavailable and my mother had to sell a cow. It hurt me and made me banish any ideas of being a pastor; I wanted to pursue something more rewarding,” he said.
During his secondary school, between 1973 and 1974, many young people his age were going to war.
He wanted to become a freedom fighter, but somehow his father got wind of it and summoned him for a heart-to-heart.
“My father called me and said if I was to go, I was going to be successful, but I was not going to come back. He said if I was to listen to God’s Word, with time I was going to marry, join and work with those who had gone for the liberation struggle for the betterment of the country that awaited us.”
He still believes that his father’s insights that day, were a spiritual revelation.
After finishing his junior certificate, which was attained at the end of what is equivalent to modern-day Form Two, he enrolled for a Theology diploma at Gillingham (now Living Waters) Bible School.
“I graduated from Living Waters Bible School with a diploma in theology on November 4, 1979. The following month, on December 22, I married my wife Claudia,” he said.
In 1980, as a freshly minted pastor, he was sent to Chivhu in the Manyene area to lead a congregation under the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM). The deployment lasted for two years.
He believes his role in the army was God-ordained.
“In my whole life as a pastor, I have seen two visions: The first one was in Domboshava in 1976 when I saw the hand of God saying, ‘I have separated you from others.’ That is how I received my calling to be a pastor. The other vision I saw was in 1985, when we were working on site during the days AFM Mufakose was being built. I saw myself wearing camouflage, preaching to soldiers,” he said.
When the vision came, he told his wife, but did not seek a deeper spiritual interpretation at the time. However, something out of the ordinary happened on the evening of the same day.
“When I got home on that day, I asked a neighbour for a newspaper and I saw an advert from the Zimbabwe National Army, saying they were looking for chaplains. I immediately applied for the position.”
His application coincided with a recommendation which had already been made by his then congregational leader, Reverend Langton Kupara, who had submitted his name to the Chaplain’s Advisory Board.
Col Nyakudya was subsequently invited for interviews and he was short listed, together with two other candidates.
“There were a series of interviews which were lined up, they ran from 1985 into 1986. The processes were rigorous. It was difficult for people from pentecostal churches to get into the system, but since I also had gotten a recommendation from my head of denomination, they gave me a chance.
“I was attested on November 8, 1986 as a lieutenant . . . In January 1987, I was posted to 32 Infantry Battalion, Tsanzaguru Barracks in Rusape.”
Explaining the role of a chaplains, Col Nyakudya said: “The office of a chaplain is operated on an open-door policy, where one does not need to make an appointment.
“Those who want to discuss the Word of God visit the chaplain, the chaplain is not confined to the eight hours of his work. The job is to advise soldiers to be good people in society.”
After joining the army in 1986, he spent six years as a lieutenant before being promoted.
In 1999, he enrolled for a Junior Staff Course at Zimbabwe Staff College and this saw him being promoted to the rank of Major.
He deputised Lieutenant Colonel Chris Sibanda as Deputy Chaplain-General until 2004 when his superior retired from service.
“In August 2004, I was appointed Chaplain-General. I remained a Major up to November 2004 when I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.”
In 2012, the preacher earned his title as full Colonel. When he turned 60 in June 2017, it was time to call it quits, but the army felt he still had more in him to serve his country.
In October 2018, he was appointed Senior Chaplain-General of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces working in the office of the Commander Defence Forces as special advisor on religious, social and moral issues.
On June 13, he attended a State function in the capital and it was supposed to be his last day in the capital, but President Mnangagwa extended his service by another year.
His new role as a reservist means he can be flexible in his work, only reporting for work when needed.
He has also joined Nyaradzo Funeral Services as a consultant, where he helps train their chaplains.
“Many senior military officers ask me to preside over their funerals in the event that they die first. The late Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Moyo left the same request and I honoured it.”
During his journey as a soldier, he has been inspired by the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda.
“He is a professional soldier who listens. From the time I started working closely with him around 1997, he has shown great leadership and has always encouraged me. I learnt a lot from General Sibanda.”
Col Nyakudya’s work has not only been limited to Zimbabwe.
“When the late Congolese President Laurent Kabila was assassinated, his body was brought here to Zimbabwe. I was asked to prepare it for burial and later accompany it to DRC.
“I held the key to his casket right until the time for body viewing. It was such an honour, having to manage the send-off of such a dignified figure,” he said.
Despite having come of age, he has no intentions to slow down on God’s work. He recently asked his church, AFM, to give him a congregation to lead at no salary.
He is now in charge of AFM Glory Zone Assembly in Damofalls Park. When he is not preaching, he likes spending time at his farm in Concession where he grows citrus fruits.
He has six children and more than 20 grandchildren.
Online Reporter