New bishop for Khahlamba diocese

THE Anglican diocese of Khahlamba, which encompasses the area from Cathcart to the Orange River, has elected a new bishop in the Venerable Moses Madywabe.

He replaces the retired bishop of the diocese who was the first since Khahlamba separated from the diocese of Grahamstown in 2009. The area was made independent due to the width of the area of that diocese and distances which made it difficult to be governed from Grahamstown. In an elective assembly chaired by the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa Thabo Makgoba at the Anglican Cathedral of St Michael and All Angels in Komani, Bishop Madywabe was elected over two other candidates. The election was concluded in the first ballot, a rare feat in the Anglican tradition.

He comes with a wealth of experience which includes two decades as a youth chaplain of the then bigger diocese of Grahamstown, as well as involvement in the South African Council of Churches at different levels. The cleric also won the Eastern Cape community builder of the year in 1998 for his work with communities in Alice.

The bishop-elect has worked with community organisations in Komani, including hospices and social work organisations.

The dean, the Very Reverend Dinga Mpunzi, has wished the bishop well for his work.