Swazi Observer

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RICH TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR REV. NYAWO

By NOKUZOLA THWALA | 2024-03-29

Church bodies and individuals have conveyed condolences on the demise of Reverend Dr Nicholas Thandokuhle Nyawo of Evangelical Church, who passed away in South Africa on Tuesday.

Rev. Nyawo, a former president of the Eswatini Conference of Churches, was described as a walking encyclopaedia, hence many referred to him when the need arose.

He was very instrumental and hugely contributed to the national services normally held at Mandvulo Grand Hall together with Home Affairs Minister, Princess Lindiwe.

As soon as news of his passing spread, condolences started pouring in for the late clergymen with the Christian tripartite, Council of Churches, Conference of Churches and League of African Churches also extending their rich tributes.

Evangelical Church Matsapha elder, Mfanukhona Sibandze, said Rev. Nyawo was a visionary, who took the church to greater heights and impacted the Christian fraternity greatly as well.

He described Rev. Nyawo, who is also former president of the Evangelical Church in Eswatini, as a veteran soldier of Christ, who fought many battles for the Lord, and the Lord enabled Him for all the success.

Sibandze said Rev. Nyawo was an honest and simple man whose focus was mainly on the greatest commission of evangelising and winning lost souls.

“In doing that, he formed many branches including EC Mkhulamini, EC Thulwane, EC Mahlabatsini and more,” said the church elder.

He noted that initially, the Matsapha branch of the Evangelical Church started at a drinking spot at the then Matsapha Police College and the 2.6 hectare land where the church is currently situated was a result of Rev. Nyawo being a visionary.

“The Matsapha branch now serves as a centre for the Usuthu District, which has about 20 branches under it,” he said. In respect of his leadership acumen, Sibandze said mainly in the Evangelical Church International hierarchy, Rev. Nyawo served for quite some time and raised many sons and daughters in the Lord. He further stated that the EC International had branches in South Africa, Mozambique and Lesotho where Rev. Nyawo had an impact as well, and his legacy would live on as the church would continue where he left off.

“Under him, we also have daughter churches like Gundvwini and KaShoba. When you look at his footprint, he reached out across the country in terms of implementing and achieving the great commission.

I believe he left behind footprints for others to follow to work for God wholeheartedly without looking back. We lost a great man of God. Our condolences to the family,” said Sibandze.
He added that they were yet to meet with Rev. Nyawo’s family and would have more details thereafter.

Sibandze also revealed that Rev Nyawo’s remains had not yet been repatriated from Johannesburg as the paperwork was still being concluded, but they were expecting his body today after all the relevant processes had been completed.

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