Swazi Observer

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BREAKING: BISHOP NASH SHONGWE PASSES AWAY

By KWANELE SIBIYA | 2024-12-30

Bishop John Nash Shongwe (72), the founder of Divine Healing Ministries International, has passed away.

The sad news of the bishop’s passing, which has left many shattered, particularly his family and church members, was confirmed by Shongwe’s son, Bongani, yesterday afternoon.

“It is true that my father has answered to the Lord’s call. We are engulfed by a dark cloud as a Shongwe family,” Bongani said.

Bongani, who stated that the family was yet to issue an official statement containing the finer details surrounding the bishop’s death, pointed out that his father passed way at a South African hospital at around 11am yesterday, where he was admitted after suffering from an undisclosed illness.

He further stated that at the time of compiling this report at around 6pm, his mother Zanele Shongwe was still out of the country as she was on her way from South Africa.

He, therefore, mentioned that he could not divulge much regarding the bishop’s death as even Their Majesties had not yet been formally informed about the tragic news.

Meanwhile, Bishop Nash, who was a former member of Liqoqo (King’s Advisory Council), was famously known for being a kind-hearted and generous man as he would through the Bishop Nash Foundation, host thanksgiving ceremonies twice every year, where he would present the elderly with blankets and food parcels, amongst other gifts.

The bishop did not only end there as through the foundation, he constructed a number of houses for the less privileged and also assisted in the payment of schools fees for the less fortunate, amongst other philanthropic activities.

This year alone, the Bishop Nash Foundation spent over E500 000 within a space of six months (January to June) in assisting the less privileged.

He was also known for his acumen to spread the gospel of Christ as he managed to open over 20 branches of Divine Healing International Ministries within and outside the country.

He was also known for his sense of humour and had made a name for himself in that regard as he was widely known for his inkhukhu yasemakhaya jingle, given that each time he had prayed or ministered to people, he would jokingly demand them to compensate him with inkhukhu yasemakhaya (organic chicken).

Bishop Nash was also famous for his gift of inferring divine healing to those who were sick to a point of performing divine miracles by bringing recovery of sight to the visually impaired and those with hearing and talking impairments.

League of Churches President, Archbishop Samson Hlatjwako said he was still in shock following Shongwe’s demise, given that he was not even aware that he had been admitted to hospital.

He said Bishop Shongwe’s passing was not only a loss to the Shongwe family, but to Their Majesties and the nation at large.

He described Shongwe as a generous giver and, therefore, a substantial number of Emaswati were dependent on him for survival.

“A countless number of Emaswati who were dependent on him have now been left in the open,” Hlatjwako said.

He urged the Shongwe family to look up to God during this trying moment of their lives as he was going to comfort them.

Reverend Johannes Mazibuko of the Mbabane Alliance Church politely asked to make a comment after having had an audience with the bishop’s wife, whom he expects to meet this morning.

Meanwhile, in May, Bishop Nash was rushed to a healthcare facility in the neighbouring country (South Africa) after suffering from an undisclosed ailment and he managed to pull through and came back to the country safe and sound.

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