Retiring Archbishop of the Diocese of Harare of the Anglican Church of Central Africa (CPCA), Archbishop Rev. Dr Chad Nicholas Gandiya, who will be retiring this year, says he is happy that he has served the church faithfully after having been at the helm for nine years.
State broadcaster, the ZBC News, caught up with Archbishop Gandiya at the church’s annual gathering at Benard Mizeki in Marondera where he spoke on a number of issues including how he wants to be remembered.
He also touched on his relationship with the leader of the Anglican Church Province of Zimbabwe, Archbishop Nobert Kunonga, whom he had a six-year wrangle over properties.
“I wish Archbishop Kunonga well. We were never enemies but we only had differences. We serve the same God,” said Archbishop Gandiya.
Elected on 2 May 2009, he was consecrated on 26 July 2009 in a four-hour ceremony at the City Sports Centre in Harare with 5000 in attendance.
He succeeded Bishop Sebastian Bakare, who had come out of retirement to serve temporarily as Bishop of Harare to replace the excommunicated Nolbert Kunonga.
Immediately after assuming his post, Gandiya appealed the court rulings that favoured Nolbert Kunonga and has spent much of his time on protecting his church from the subsequent property seizures and violence against clergy.
In September 2011, Gandiya himself was robbed in his home in Harare.
Bishop Gandiya hosted the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Zimbabwe in October 2011.
In November 2012, a Supreme Court decision ended the six-year dispute between the Anglicans led by Bishop Gandiya and Nolbert Kunonga’s Church of the Province of Zimbabwe.
Gandiya invited Kunonga and his camp to join back the Anglican church.
“But obviously we will follow church rules,” added Gandiya.
Kunonga turned down the invitation.
As of end 2012, Gandiya-led Anglicans were figuring out ways to get back their Harare property that had been rented out by Kunonga before the Supreme Court decision in November.
According to his official biography, Gandiya has worked with the Church since the 1970s when he served as a catechist. His formal theological training started with a diploma from Rusitu Bible Institute followed by ordination training at St John’s Nottingham (UK) and post-graduate studies in religious studies at the University of Zimbabwe. He undertook further post-graduate training in medical ethics in the USA and in Zimbabwe.
Gandiya served as a parish priest, university chaplain (Zimbabwe & USA), diocesan stewardship officer and lecturer (Zimbabwe and USA).
As principal of Bishop Gaul College, he had the college registered as an associate college of the University of Zimbabwe.
As Desk Officer at USPG Anglicans in World Mission, Gandiya oversaw a wide range of projects concerned with the well-being of people in Africa and the Indian Ocean region (e.g. health, leadership development and education – theological and others).
He has also served on committees for several organisations including Africa Enterprise, Institute of Contemporary Christianity and Youth With A Mission.
He was Founder member and Chairman of the AIDS Counselling Trust (ACT) and ANITEPAM, Christians for the Liberation of South Africa and Third World Personnel Working in Europe.
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