adminCletus Mushanawani News Editor
THE Anglican Diocese of Manicaland has a new bishop following the election of Reverend-Canon Eric Ruwona at St John’s Cathedral in Mutare last Saturday. Bishop-elect Rev Ruwona, who is currently based in Toronto, Canada, is expected to take over the reins from Bishop Julius Makoni, who resigned recently to take up a new job at the Washington-based Bretton Woods (IMF) institution.
The diocesan secretary for Manicaland, Mr Ashley Mutungura, confirmed the development and said they were now waiting for Rev Ruwona’s confirmation, consecration and enthronement.
Rev Ruwona was elected by six clergies from the Diocese of Manicaland and 10 people from the Central Province of Central Africa (three from Bulawayo, four from Zambia and three from Malawi).
He becomes the fifth bishop to preside over the affairs of the Diocese of Manicaland after Bishops Peter Hatendi, Sebastain Bakare, Elson Jakazi and Julius Makoni.
“The elections were presided over by the provincial chancellor, Mr Michael Chingore, and communication has since been made to the Anglican community all over the world that we now have a bishop-elect in the Diocese of Manicaland,” said Mr Mutungura.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Rev Ruwona were fruitless at the time of going to press as his given number was continuously not available.
Rev Ruwona was born on September 30, 1970 in Dowa, Rusape. He is a second born in a family of seven boys and a girl.
He has served in parishes in Manicaland and Harare which include St Mary’s Chitungwiza Parish, St Aidan’s Church and St Agnes Chikanga.
He became the Dean of Manicaland and Rector of St John the Baptist Cathedral in Mutare in May 2001 until January 2007.
He was the vicar-general of the Diocese of Manicaland from 2004 and served as an honorary clergy in Harare before leaving for Toronto, Canada where he is currently serving as an honorary associate at the St James Cathedral Parish.
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