Kanjadza, Henderson Allison
Henderson Kanjadza was a Christian businessman who is remembered for his generosity towards church construction projects, notably the magnificent manse of Chawa CCAP at Lobi Trading Centre in Dedza District. He was born on May 2, 1952, in Chiradzulu District in the south of Malawi, the second-born of six children of Allison Kanjadza and Sabina Kaipa. He had three brothers and two sisters. They were a Christian family, belonging to the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Blantyre Synod, and Henderson was brought up attending Sunday School and participating in the life of the church. [1]
On completion of his primary education at Mbulumbudzi Primary School in Chiradzulu District, Kanjadza was selected for Chiradzulu Secondary School. It was while he was a student there that he first befriended Missie Chidothe, his future wife. He proceeded to pursue his education at Cobe Veterinary College. At a later stage in his life, in 2010, Kanjadza enrolled as a mature student at the University of Malawi where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree. [2] At the time of his death, Kanjadza had enrolled for a Master’s degree program with Malawi Institute of Management.
In 1973 he married Missie Chidothe, now trained as a teacher. The couple were blessed with seven children: Chikondi, Martin, Limbika, Mwayi, Lauren, Pempho, and Thandizo. Kanjadza’s first job was with the Survey Department, where he worked briefly before joining the Commercial Bank of Malawi (now the Standard Bank of Malawi). After some time, he moved to Kanengo Tobacco Industries as a Chief Tobacco Clerk at the Auction Floors. He rose through the ranks over his long service with the company. In 1996, after the construction of the Mzuzu Auction Floors, he was posted to Mzuzu as the first General Manager for the Mzuzu Auction Floors where he lived and worked until his death in March 2021. Henderson built his retirement home in Mzuzu and settled there.
Throughout his life Kanjadza was a devoted Christian who served the Lord with all his heart. Wherever he was stationed he was always active in his local church congregation. He served as a deacon at Msonkhamanja CCAP in Lilongwe in the 1970s when he was working with the Survey Department. Later, when he was working in the Tobacco Industry, he served for many years as a church elder, first at Dzenza CCAP and later at Kaning’ina CCAP. When he moved to Mzuzu he was a church elder at St Andrews Congregation, in the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia. When the CCAP Nkhoma Synod built its first church in the city of Mzuzu, Kanjadza was one of its first church elders as well as its development chairperson. [3]
One day in 2010, Kanjadza and his family paid a visit to Chawa CCAP in Dedza where they heard about the need for a modern manse from the church leadership. After some years, they made another visit and Kanjadza was surprised by the slow progress of the manse building. The church elders explained that this was because of financial problems. Henderson and his wife Missie then promised the Chawa CCAP that they would construct the manse for the glory of God, and the benefit of the Synod of Nkhoma and Chawa CCAP. The work started in 2017 and finished in 2020.
The house has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, three toilets, stores, kitchen, sitting room, minister’s office and a garage. At the time of commissioning the manse, it was estimated to be worth US$50,000. The handover of the manse was done by his son Martin Kanjadza and other family representatives, since Henderson himself was ill and unable to travel. A special service was held on August 21, 2020, attended by senior leaders of Nkhoma Synod as well as the local congregation. [4]
Kanjadza’s condition deteriorated as he was suffering from diabetes, and he died at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre on March 14, 2021. He was buried at Chimombo Village at Lobi in Dedza, not far from the new manse that had so recently been completed. The local community and the Chawa CCAP congregation were greatly saddened by Kanjadza’s death. Not only was he helping the church, but his charity extended to the elderly, orphans and vulnerable children, the sick, and the less privileged in Chiphe, Chimombo, Kamala, and other surrounding villages. His generosity to church and community will long be remembered.
Aubrey John Banda
Notes:
- Missie Chidothe, wife of Henderson Allison Kanchadza, interview by author, August 16, 2024, Lobi.
- Martin Kanjadza, son of Henderson Allison Kanchadza, interview by author, August 20, 2024, Lobi.
- Missie Chidothe, wife of Henderson Allison Kanchadza, interview by author, September 15, 2024, Lobi.
- Lyton Kampani, Chawa CCAP Session Clerk, interview by author, September 19, 2024, Lobi.
Bibliography
Chidothe, Missie. Interview by author. August 16, 2024, Lobi. Kanjadza, Martin. Interview by author. August 20, 2024, Lobi. Kampani, Lyton. Interview by author. September 19, 2024, Lobi.
This article, submitted in December 2024, was researched and written by Aubrey John Banda, minister of Chawa congregation in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Nkhoma Synod, under the supervision of Professor Kenneth R. Ross as one of the requirements of the Church History course on the MTh in Contextual Theology at Zomba Theological University.
Photo Gallery
Chawa CCAP manse
