Bishop Bakare launches 4th book
Retired Anglican Diocese of Manicaland bishop, Emeritus Right Reverend, Dr Bishop Sebastian Bakare launched his fourth memoir titled – Your People, Will Be My People – at St John's Cathedral in Mutare last Friday.
e event was graced by people from all walks of life.
e book adds to Bishop Bakare's catalogue of books like – e Drumbeat of Life: Jubilee in an African Context; My Right to Land, in the Bible and in Zimbabwe; A eology of Land for Zimbabwe and A eology of Men.
Bishop Bakare expressed jubilation that his latest offing was ĕnally published 27 years later aer inking his ĕrst works.
“Whoever reads the book will read a memoir of my ministry in different places from when I started in Zambia, where I learnt to speak Nzenga. Aer two years, I was transformed to Kitwe, where I learnt Bemba before I le to work in Germany for another two years. My life and ministry have been accompanied by these foreign languages, but I am glad that I had an opportunity to do it.
“e book speaks about my ministry at University of Zimbabwe (UZ) as a senior chaplain, where I dealt with some interesting characters you will ĕnd in it. “ese are people who have made it politically. At UZ, I had a tough time as there were students unrest, and I had to mediate between the students and police. I am happy that my arbitrations worked well,” he said.
Professor Regis Gutuza, who was the guest of honour at the book launch, said Bishop Bakare's latest offing is a must read.
“Emeritus Right Reverend Dr Bishop Sebastian Bakare is a well-travelled, multiskilled, trilingual individual living as a father, an educator, philanthropist mediator and psychologist. His outlook of the world has been nothing short of captivating, and I am humbled to have glimpse into his mind through the memoir he has offered to the world today,” he said.
Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Manicaland, Bishop Erick Ruwona donated US$500 to his predecessor in honour of his latest project.
e gi was presented by his daughter-in-law, Mrs Portia Magada.
e gi was a testament of the Anglican affection between the two clerics. Bishop Bakare is a retired bishop of Manicaland and Harare dioceses respectively. He is a recipient of the Per Anger Prize, which is Sweden's equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize.
He was honoured for his commitment to ĕght political and economic oppression on behalf of God's people, especially his fellow countrymen.
Together with his late wife Ruth, Bishop Bakare worked tirelessly to combat the legacy of white oppression.
In the memoir, Bishop Bakare draws his partner's embrace of the people of Mutangagore in Makoni, to that of the Biblical legend of Ruth, who according to the scriptures, said to Naomi “sincerely, entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following aer you; for wherever you go, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”. Foreword writer, Herman Waetjen said Bishop Bakare's own ministry began from giving the right answer to a spiritual question while still in secondary school. “He was asked, 'Sebastian, what do you want to become when you ĕnish school?' When he was asked this question, little did he know that his life was to be lived in the likeness of our Lord, full of joy with suffering, full of vastly different experiences. While still in secondary school from Isaiah 6v8 – 'en I heard the voice of the Lord. He said, 'Who will I send? Who will go for us?' I said, 'Here I am. Send me," he said.
Bishop Bakare returned to Zimbabwe, with his wife Ruth, and daughters to strive to answer the call he heard. the only positive legacy we leave to you and those yet unborn”.
Bishop Bakare bemoans the ill-treatment of indigenous people under the colonial government of the late Mr Ian Smith.
He said the settle regime devised a cruel system that degraded the human rights of the indigenous people while upliing those small white minority settlers. “Blacks were treated as commodities that were to be used, abused, discarded, and condemned. Blacks had no recourse to legal protections. Land, which provided them a source of livelihood was forcefully taken away. No land, no rights; we were completely disempowered,” he said.
Bishop Bakare said the seizure of land and abuse of blacks compelled his generation to take up arms to liberate the country.
e issue of land is so close to Bishop Bakare's heart and he penned a separate chapter in the book titled – My Right to Land.
“Despite repression and violence from the white regime, my generation achieved its goal of political independence,” he said.
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Bishop abo Makgoba said:
"is book is a beautiful narrative of a life of commitment. e author and his wife responded unrelentingly to a call to serve God's people with courage and commitment. It is an urgent call for a courageous, committed, and an equal society where all citizens are free and liberated from the bondage of the sin of corruption, selĕshness, and injustice."
Former chancellor of the Diocese of Harare, Ms Vimbai Nyemba said:
“is memoir is a testament to Bishop Bakare's gis and achievements as a friend, scholar, theological educator, and clergy, who has given generous encouragement to others in a bid to help them achieve their potential and advance in discipleship."