REMINISCENCE WITH A SILVER BINOCULAR
BY VINCENT GOTAMI
In a year when the collective catholic universe celebrates the Jubilee year, a divine coincidence strikes with the priestly life and journey of Father Emmanuel Zandonda as he too celebrates his Silver Jubilee to mark twenty five years of priesthood, having been ordained right at the stroke of the new millennium.
And August the 2nd 2025 was the day he chose to gather all who matter and have mattered in his priestly journey to join him in celebrating his journey so far.
Cognisant of this remarkable fit, so dear to the heart of the author, a reminisce with some silver lanced binocular to this silver Jubilee journey and the positive encounters along the path is only nobble and justified
THE BACKGROUND
Upon the disection of Gweru Diocese into two to mark the birth of Masvingo Diocese on the 24th of April 1999, Father Zandonda had already been ordained a deacon by the late Bishop Francis Mugadzi (MHDSRIP). Father Zandonda was to become the second priest to be ordained in an independent Masvingo Diocese in the year 2000, after the Diocesan first born priest Father Simon Chaputsira who was the first priest to be ordained in Masvingo Diocese in December 1999 at Mutero Mission in Gutu.
A roller coaster of ordinations were to follow at the advent of the new millennium, presumably to address the pastoral and shepherding gaps inherent back then in the new Masvingo Diocese which was still at a pediatric stage fresh from its formation. So packed was the pastoral program then that Father Zandonda’s priestly ordination was preceded by a deaconate ordination of seven deacons at Silveira Mission barely a week earlier. Yes, a week apart, seven deacons including Father Andrew Foto, were ordained deacons before Father Zandonda was ordained priest at an eventful ordination at St. Don Bosco parish in Masvingo. Two of the seven deacons were ordained priests five months later at Mukaro Mission in December 2000 with remaining five the following year in June 2001 at St Antony Musiso mission in Zaka. There we have it, no prize then for guessing whose Silver Jubilee is coming next in June 2026.
THE EVENTFUL ORDINATION
Attending and witnessing the silver jubilee thanksgiving celebrations of Father Zandonda at St Don Bosco Primary school grounds in Masvingo, the author could not help but relive the joyous and glorious eye catching moments of the day Father Zandonda was ordained priest to set his priestly ministry in motion.
Having attended both his ordination twenty five years ago as a fourteen (14) year old teenager doing form two at Mucheke High school in Masvingo, and attending his Silver Jubilee celebration twenty five (25) years later at the very same land where it started 25 years ago is a no mean nor trivial privilege for the author. The memories are both fresh and vivid, worse with no much changes to Silver Jubilarian’s looks and stature, including his trademark smile that he dawned on his face both on his ordination day and on his Silver Jubilee day 25 years later.
For those who attended his ordination at St. Don Bosco parish in the year 2000, who would forget how the late Monsignor Kizito Mavhima, then priest in charge at the host parish Don Bosco stood up in his old age and walked with his shoulders high, synonymous with the pride overflow of a mentor to a successful candidate, to pick Father Zandonda from the crowd, hand held him to the stage and presented him to Bishop Michael Bhasera to ordain him.
Who would forget how Monsignor Mavhima bypassed the normal reciting of the response to the Bishop’s enquiry on whether as the Priest in Charge he knew the deacon requesting ordination to priesthood intricately and simply answered “hongu sekuru mugadzei henyu”, much to the laughter and ullulation from the gathered congregation. This shortcut and rite bypass by Father Mavhima was suggestive of the joy and pride in him, having played a pivotal role in the nursing and hatching of Father Zandonda’s priesthood, something which would pay deferred dividends as Father Mavhima would retire from active ministry into the hands, warmth and care of Father Zandonda at Gokomere mission until the time of his (Father Mavhima) demise.
Who would forget that the ordination was so close to the hearts of many including the then female Magistrate from Marondera who came all the way and gave a key note address.
Who would forget the density of the loud voice of Father Zandonda’s uncle Sekuru Timothy Zandonda when he gave vote of thanks and began with the slogan Zandonda wooooooo, Zandonda hoyeeeeeeeee and went on to say “Ndoda kukutendai mose mauya kuzohwitimisa ugadzo hwemuzukuru wangu Emanuel”, again sending the gathered faithful into a francy with laughter.
The ordination was eventful with overflowing joy, happiness and excitement to witness the birth of a priest, second born in an independent Diocese of Masvingo but first born in the new millennium of the 21st century in Masvingo Diocese.
THE PRIESTLY ODYSSEY
The priestly trip of Father Emmanuel Zandonda is one with key points, moments and developments that all but point to the model priest he is and the originality of his vocation and calling.
It is standard canonical practice that once a priest is ordained, they go through a Pastoral year where they are assigned to work under the tutelage of an experienced senior priest to learn the ropes. The story was a bit different with Father Emmanuel Zandonda as his cumulative length of pastoral mentorship before becoming a Priest in Charge was only 9 months. Yes, just like a mother would coincive, deliver and give birth to a baby in a similar period, so would be the birth, delivery and manifestation of Father Zandonda’s natural pastoral and leadership prowress.
Upon ordination, Father Zandonda was assigned to Berejena Mission in Chivi. After only 3 months, Father Zandonda was reassigned to Silveira Mission as assistant priest and continue with his pastoral year. After 6 months at Silveira and a cumulative 9 months of his pastoral year, Father Zandonda was appointed Priest in Charge at Berejena mission where he started his journey. This rare development and appointment was after realization of the pastoral and administrative talent inherent in him.
Father Zandonda was to be at the helm of Berejena Mission until 2005 when he was assigned to an even more challenging portfolio of being the Priest in charge at Gokomere mission. Whilst still at Berejena, in 2002 Father Zandonda had been seconded to Kenya for 6 months, and was appointed Ex Officio Director of Caritas Masvingo Diocese then known as Catholic Development Commission (CADEC) upon his return, immediately hitting the ground running, establishing structures and systems and intensifying the Commission’s mark and positive impact in communities that it operated. Father Zandonda also spearheaded the securing of funding for the commission from funding partners and by 2007 when the author joined the commission as a student on attachment, Caritas had an array of funding partners like Sweden International Development Agency (SIDA), Miserior from Germany, Trocaire and Catholic Agency for Oversees Development (CAFOD), all thanks to Father Zandonda’s strategic management and good corporate governance thrust.
At one time, Father Zandonda was simultaneously holding portfolios of Priest in Charge of Gokomere, a complex portfolio on its own given the size and level of activity at the biggest mission in the Diocese, Dean of Masvingo Deanary, Ex Officio Director of Caritas as well as Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Association of Diocesan Clergy (ZADC). Overwhelming as the responsibilities may appear, Father Zandonda was able to discharge his duties and responsibilities effectively, thanks to his gift of administration, logical planning, leading and organizing.
In 2013, Father Zandonda was briefly assigned to St. Mary’s Nyika before he was sent to further his studies in Phillipines in the same year. Phillipines region was wartone and conflict in the Syria region was rife, with daily casualties and deaths statistics consistently on the rise. But the grace of God was upon Father Zandonda that he managed to take his studies safely. The waring parties conflicted on everything else except one thing, to preserve the life, dignity and safety of Father Zandonda throughout his studies.
In 2017, Father Zandonda took his studies to Kenya where he wound up his studies with the accolade of a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology before returning home to continue with his pastoral duties. He is currently entrusted with nurturing young vacations as the Rector of the St. Kizito Minor Seminary.
THE BIG HEART
As Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa delivered his homily during the Silver Jubilee mass at Don Bosco PrimarySchoolgrounds, and as he gave a description of the silver Jubilarian, one characteristic stood out and rang a bell in the author’s mind.. a big, open and accomodative heart which dovetails well with his vocation of priesthood.
Father Zandonda’s heart is one that is framed with unconditional love, empathy and compassion which is inborn.
The author’s first close encounter with Father Zandonda was on the 23rd of December 2006. The author’s sibling brother, Father Vitalis Gotami was doing pastoral work at Gokomere mission where Father Zandonda was priest in charge. As fate would have it, thats about the time the author’s father Mr. Phillip Gotami passed on. Father Zandonda accompanied Father Gotami, then a seminarian, to the Gotami homestead in Gutu for the funeral and burial of our father Mr. Phillip Gotami. At the burial, Father Zandonda was the main celebrant during mass which was co-celebrated by Father Ferdinand Mubvigwi, then Priest in Charge of Mutero Mission, and the current Vicar General Very Reverend Father Oscar Chagweda, then on his pastoral year at Mutero Mission just after his ordination in Beit Bridge earlier that year.
Admist the sorrow of losing a parent, the author navigated through the pain and summoned some courage within him to approach Father Zandonda in his capacity as the Ex Officio Director of Caritas to seek a chance to do work related learning at Caritas. With no grain of hesitation, Father Zandonda nodded in agreement and requested that the authors send him his curriculum vitae for perusal and it marked the start of an exciting journey of a successful work related learning at Caritas Masvingo.
Part of the author’s goals was to attain a Driver’s licence while on attachment. However, the prevailing macroeconomic environment at that time, the most catastrophic phase of Zimbabwe’s economic history in 2008 rendered the goal of obtaining a licence elusive. Having shared the goal with Father Zandonda and how untenable it was proving to be due to economicvolatility, Father Zandonda chipped in and personally funded part of the author’s driving lessons until the goal of getting a licence was achieved. This is a licence that is a lifetime personal particular, one that was to become a distinguishing factor during selection to the entry job at the organization that the author now works for, all thanks to Father Zandonda.
Additionally, the author, together with Dr Albert Munyanyi, then also a student on attachment at Caritas, where he is back as a board member now, approached Father Zandonda and shared a wish to obtain passports. During this time, obtaining a passport was as complex nightmare as extracting ice from hell. Father Zandonda simply picked his phone, phoned the then Provincial Registrar Mrs Chitsa and advised her that he was referring the two of us, myself and Dr Albert Munyanyi to her office to assist us obtain passports. As simple as that, Father Zandonda’s generosity and influence had broken barriers of complexity and our passports were processed while we sat with Dr Munyanyi in the comfort of the Provincial Registrar’s office.
Then came the big one. Back then around 2007-2008, cellphones were not as common and basic as they have become today. One would part with a fortune to secure a cell phone and would sleep in ques to obtain a mobile line. Father Zandonda had a nice modern Nokia handset with a flip mechanism. One day while at Caritas premises, the author simply passed a comment applauding the nice handset that Father Zandonda had as he took out his mobile phone to pick a call. “Do you really like it, have you ever had a phone before young man?”, Father Zandonda asked, to which the author replied, “No father i have never had one, i would really love to have one but im too far from achieving that”, the author replied while Father Zandonda walked into his office. He called the author to his office, took out his phone, dislodged his line from the handset and handed the handset to the author and said he was touched by the author’s wish to own a phone and thus he was relinquishing ownership of his priced handset to the author as a present. Fiction like it appeared, this was just but one other episode of an encounter with Father Zandonda’s unwavering generosity from his expanded heart accomodative to all.
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
Today, as Father Zandonda marks 25 years of his priestly journey, his vocation and pastoral strength can only get better.
Consistent with scriptures which states the need for succession in the pastoral ministry, hope is abundant within the church that vocations will continue to spring out and blossom given that the modest of a priest who has seen it all is entrusted to be the chief junior formatter as the Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary at Mukaro mission. And indeed in Father Emmanuel Zandonda, the minor seminarians have a beacon and model to emulate and look upto for inspiration as they set tone for their own spiritual development and upliftment towards the sacrament of priesthood.
These 25 years do not signify a destination but the beginning as religious life journey is one which gets longer and complex as years go by.
A concluding wish for more success, blessings, good health and protection unto to a gentle giant, a modest priest with a big heart, Father Emmanuel Zandonda.
