Swazi Observer

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CHURCH LEADERS MOURN REVEREND DR. NYAWO

By Simon Shabangu | 2024-03-29

THE passing on of one of the country’s longest serving ministers of the Gospel has left the Christian fraternity shattered.

Dr. Nyawo’s demise was confirmed by senior leadership of the Evangelical Church where he served in all major boards and his family. He was undergoing treatment in South Africa when he met his death.

Bishop Nash Shongwe said this was a very sad moment for the Christian fraternity, especially as it happened a few days before the Passover weekend.

He said Dr. Nyawo was one of the longest serving preachers in the country whose teachings and counsel touched and transformed many lives. He said he personally learnt a lot from Dr Nyawo.

“He was a humble and selfless servant of God who was committed to the faith and rendered many years of service to the body of Christ. I extend my condolences to Their Majesties, his family, his church and the entire Christian community,” Bishop Shongwe said.

He said Dr Nyawo touched many lives not only in Eswatini but also in the international arena. “What excites me the most is that he died in Christ, because that is what is crucial at the end of the day. We congratulate him for threading the path of faith faithfully and ran the whole course while serving Christ.

“We pray that God comforts the family and the church during this difficult moment,” he said.
Reverend Dr Johannes Mazibuko said the passing of Dr Nyawo had left a void in the Christian community.

“My condolences go to Their Majesties as he served them until the end of his days.
“Special tribute goes to his family and the church he has led for many years. I have personally worked with him in many forums and also travelled many countries with him as we undertook God’s work,” he said.

He said Dr Nyawo played a huge role in advancing the Word of God in the country.
He said it was his belief that it was God’s time, especially because he has been indisposed for some time. He said they were grateful to God that He saved the nation from double demise as Bishop Nash Shongwe was also in South Africa for medical attention at the time.

Meanwhile, condolences have been coming in from different organisations and churches who sent words of comfort to the family and the church.

The country’s church bodies also sent their condolences. Social media was abuzz with Dr Nyawo’s demise with many people sharing their experiences and the teachings they received from him.

At the time of his demise, he was the managing director of Tisuka TakaNgwane.
He shared the same passion as the late Bishop Stephen Masilela in uniting the church under one body.

This saw him establish a body known as the Swaziland Christian Churches United in Christ (SCCUC), which attempted to merge the League of African Churches, Council of Swaziland Churches and Eswatini Conference of Churches.

At some point Rev Nyawo was the president of the Conference of Churches, where he succeeded another late pioneer of the faith; Reverend Dr Isaac Dabulamanzi Hleta (who they shared a long history with in preaching the Gospel).

He was also an author of note, with two of his books having won him international acclaim. These were ‘Be a Woman of Substance’ and ‘Fleeing Youthful Lust’.

Prior to joining Tisuka, we was the Headteacher of Franson Christian High School in Mhlosheni under the Shiselweni region.

There he earned a reputation of being a tough disciplinarian.
He was close friends with Reverend Dr Phineas Magagula as they also went to school with him together with the late former DPM, Albert Heshane Shabangu.

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