Africa University professor elected bishop Aug. 23, 2004 By Andra Stevens*  | | Bishop Eben Kanukayi Nhiwatiwa, Zimbabwe Area |
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (UMNS)-The Africa Central Conference, meeting Aug. 19-21, elected a seasoned educator and evangelist, the Rev. Eben Kanukayi Nhiwatiwa, as a bishop. Nhiwatiwa, a longstanding member of the faculty at United Methodist-related Africa University, was assigned to Zimbabwe Area. He succeeds Bishop Christopher Jokomo, who retired in June due to ill health. Nhiwatiwa will begin his duties as bishop Sept. 1. Two other bishops, Jose Quipungo of East Angola Area and Gaspar Joao Domingos of West Angola Area, were re-elected for life. The two were first elected to the episcopacy in 2000. Nhiwatiwa has been involved with Africa University in Zimbabwe since its inception. In its planning stages he hosted site selection and other meetings at Old Mutare Mission, where he served as pastor-in-charge. He joined the staff in the Faculty of Theology in February 1992 to teach pastoral theology. On campus, his colleagues reacted to his election with great pride.  | | Bishop Gaspar Joao Domingos, West Angola Area |
"We’d like to keep him in the faculty but we see that there is need for leadership in Africa today and Africa University is producing leaders, not only in the students we are training but from amongst our lecturers and administrators," said David Yemba, dean of the Faculty of Theology."Dr. Nhiwatiwa has played a huge role in developing the faculty and university as a whole, so we’re pleased that the church has recognized his many strengths and seen fit to elect him to this level of leadership," said Rukudzo Murapa, vice chancellor of Africa University. "Through his many years of service, he has demonstrated loyalty, commitment and real devotion to nurturing young pastors and strengthening and equipping the church in Africa." Speaking just hours after the election, Nhiwatiwa said he would continue to serve the United Methodist Church in much the same way as he has since he was ordained as a deacon in 1974. He stressed consultation and trust and consensus building as aspects of his leadership style, saying that motivating and unifying the membership of the Zimbabwe East and Zimbabwe West annual conferences would be among his priorities. "We are going through very difficult times economically and politically, so each church member must feel that he or she is part and parcel of the church and has something to contribute, no one will be sitting on the sidelines," said Nhiwatiwa. Having served as conference secretary for Zimbabwe Area since 1992, the 55-year-old Nhiwatiwa is knowledgeable about the challenges and concerns facing the United Methodist Church in southern Africa. He is also well known and respected across the five annual conferences in the Africa Central Conference. He’s been general secretary of the Africa Central Conference since 2000.  | Bishop Jose Quipungo,
East Angola Area |
After his ministerial training at Epworth Theological College in Harare, Nhiwatiwa worked as an associate pastor, school chaplain and teacher at Old Mutare Mission. In 1975, he went for further theological education at the Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., then on to Goshen College for his Bachelor of Arts degree. Nhiwatiwa earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees at Illinois State University before returning to Zimbabwe in 1984. He was appointed pastor and station chairperson at Old Mutare Mission on his return and served there until he joined the faculty at Africa University in 1992. His wife, Greta, is a leading industrial hygiene and safety professional in Zimbabwe. The Nhiwatiwas have one daughter, Nyasha, who is studying at Bennett College in North Carolina. *Stevens is director of information at Africa University. News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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