By Kuda Matambo
The late Bishop Emeritus for Gweru Diocese, Rev Martin Munyanyi was laid to rest on Saturday 21 May at Driefontein together with Sr. Dr Bernadette Chabhongora of the Sisters of the Child Jesus (SJI) who died on the 18th of May, days after Bishop Munyanyi.
Born in the same year in 1956, the two were honoured for their service, formation and dedication to academic excellency with Bishop Munyanyi attaining a Doctorate in Philosophy and Sr Bernadette in Mathematics.
Bishop Munyanyi was 66 and only served 8 years as a prelate of the diocese before retiring due to ill health.
A native of Masvingo, he was born at Silveira Mission Hospital on the 3rd of January 1956, attended Beadmore Primary School in Bikita and Silveira High School .
He was ordained a priest on the 3rd of September 1983, in the then Diocese of Gweru.
Funeral
Addressing mourners at the vigil mass, Archbishop Robert Ndlovu, a classmate of the late prelate said Martin was always smiling and was committed to his work.
He went on to urge the mourners not to take each other for granted and to remember time is not ours, but God’s.
“You know in life we easily take each other for granted but when some of us have been taken by the Lord that’s when we start seeing their importance in our lives. We somehow start reliving the moments we spent with them.”
“These past few days since I received the news of the passing on of Sekuru (Bishop) Munyanyi, so Martin is gone? So Martin is gone.?”
He said Bishop Munyanyi had a clear vision of his vocation and was committed to the work including 15 years of formation of seminarians.
Archbishop Ndlovu also echoed the many testimonies of how good Bishop Munyanyi was a good preacher saying “his best was at the pulpit” and that “he was very spontaneous.”
Addressing the congregants who braved the heavy rains and cold weather on Saturday 21 May, Bishop Raphael Ncube said the two joyfully completed their pilgrimage and people must celebrate and not mourn the death of the two.
“Bishop Munyanyi and Sr Bernadette were true emissaries of Christ and yes “a priest and a religious die but do not perish.”
“Today we are celebrating and not mourning, we are gathered here to witness not an end to a life but a joyful completion of a pilgrimage. A genuine fulfilment of a mission. Today is the day to celebrate because the will of God has been done.”
Bishop Ncube also delivered an imagined letter, a letter “Bishop Munyanyi could have written” for mourners on his funeral, a letter of forgiveness and encouragement.
Service
Described as jovial, relaxed and free spirited, Bishop Munyanyi worked in various missions such as St Augustine Seminary in Bulawayo, Berejena in Masvingo as well as Chiredzi among others.
He was appointed Bishop of Gweru Diocese, by Pope Benedict XVI in May 2006 appointed and was consecrated and installed at Mkoba Stadium on the 26th of August the same year.
Serving only a few years, he resigned on the 12th of April 2012, due to ill health and was succeeded by the late Bishop Xavier Munyongani who served only 4 years as Bishop from 2013 to 2017.
The late Bishop Martin Munyanyi took the reins after the death of Bishop Xavier Mugadzi who was consecrated Bishop in 1989 and died in 2004.
Before Bishop Mugadzi, the Catholic Diocese of Gweru had Reverends Tobias Wunganayi Chiginya (1977 to 1987) and Aloysius Haene SBM (1947 to 1977) as bishops.
After he complained of ill health, the late Martin Munyanyi retired to a calm and serene home in Shurugwi, where he resided till his health deteriorated.
English