Patrick Chakaipa

First Black Archbishop of Salibury and Harare and Author

Patrick Chakaipa’s  first name was Fani, he made Zimbabwean history when he was the first black priest to be ordained Archbishop of Salisbury (now Harare) on the 31st of May 1976. He would remain Archbishop until his death on 8 April 2003.

He was born, raised and received his early education in his rural home of Mhondoro. On the 15th August 1965 he was ordained as a priest of Salisbury and later on the 15th October 1972 appointed auxillary Bishop of Salisbury and Titular Bishop of Rucuma. He held this position until a further being ordained as Titular Bishop of Rucuma on 14 January 1973. 

Patrick Chakaipa was the Minister who officiated at Zimbabwe inaugural independence celebrations on the 18th April 1981 and at the wedding of Zimbabwe’s President Robert G Mugabe and first lady Grace Mugabe in 1996.

Patrick Chakaipa Novels:

Fani Chakaipa was an author of note who wrote several books in the Shona (Zezuru) language.

• Rudo Ibofu
• Pfumo Reropa (1961)
• Karikoga Gumi Remuseve (1958)
• Garandichauya