“๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐r. ๐๐๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ฎ, ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐,” says Colonel Galamukani
Colonel Galamukani also known as (aka) Felix Banda
“๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐r. ๐๐๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ฎ, ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐”
By Colonel Galamukani also known as (aka) Felix Banda
Rev. Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu is Zambia’s export to Canada where he is Executive Minister – Church in Mission for the United Church of Canada as a donor in charge of some parts of Asia and Southern Africa.
Rev. Dr. Ndhlovu is my Pastor and Reverand of many of us in the Reformed Church in Zambia. All those that have experienced him hold him in very high esteem. He is one of the most respected Reverands in the Church because he led it as Moderator at some point. Rev. Dr. has lectured at so many universities in Africa. He was appointed as Head of Theology Department for the Presbyterian University of East Africa in 2011 to be based in Kenya.
Dr. Ndhlovu is extensively learned possessing two Doctorate Degrees in Philosophy and another in Theology and Missiology. He equally posseses two Masters Degrees in Ecumenical Theology and another in Missiology. When he speaks, you can listen to him all day. His depth of wisdom and knowledge is amazing.
How then did I meet him?
When I first proposed my love to Ruth who has been my wife of 22 years now, one of the silent conditions she gave me was to meet Dr. Ndhlovu, who was Reverend at her church at the time. I want to assume this condition was for purposes of his assessment in determining my suitability to date Ruth.
I loved Ruth so much and I accepted to go and see her Reverend. When I met with Ruth, it was love at first sight and now we are married.
Dr. Ndhlovu ‘approved’ of our intentions to date and eventually counseled us in the process. He ended up officiating and being the guest of honor at our wedding.
It was lovely. It was fantastic.
When he was graduating for his PhD in Theological Studies in 2008/09, me, Ruth and Lusungu, our daughter flew to Capetown South Africa to witness this occasion and celebration at Stellenbosch University because this was the man that inspired us.
Going forward, when he started impacting my personal life, he was engaged with the Council of Churches in Zambia as General Secretary. So, when I had quit my job, he was one of those persons I had consulted when I needed to decide which direction I could take.
Interestingly, one of the things we got to talk about was my entry point. Initially, I wanted to use the political arm.We argued for more than an hour and I was discouraged the moment I was leaving that place.
His argument was that I could be relevant to society in other means. Out of that discussion, he decided to take me on a retreat, but an official work trip to Australia sponsored by the Council of Churches in Zambia to coordinate a fundraiser for them.
So, I visited some parts of Australia in the process. I had a good time there. It was when I was coming back to Zambia, that I discovered my calling of Motivational Speaking after a certain “Muzungu” in Australia recognized my gifting. All this was through Dr. Ndhlovu.
It was Dr. Ndhlovu that again took me to Kenya and Togo to go and speak. Gradually, I developed the confidence I needed to speak as a Professional Speaker.
Dr. Ndhlovu by stature is highly acclaimed, but he takes time to visit me and my family each time he is in Zambia. This is very humbling because we know how many places he may have scheduled to visit, but still ensures we are on his schedule.
Even in my current state of illness, Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu put together our mutual friends and established some undertaking called ‘Friends of Felix’. Regularly, through this undertaking, I and my family receive some funds to supplement our upkeep because I am not as active as I used to be workwise.
He takes time, once a month to video call me just to check on how I am doing and you have no idea how this brings a lot of healing to me.
Doc is our family’s lead spiritually and so there are certain private talks that we normally get to have too.
Another interesting aspect is that my marriage to Ruth is as intact as it can be now because whenever we may have an argument, either of us will suggest to seek Dr. Ndhlovu’s intervention in the matter.
“Okey pela ba Galamukani, we can’t seem to agree, let’s call Abusa kansi”….And that’s how we closed the argument. And when she troubles me too, I am like “Kansi nzabauza Abusa” and suddenly, she changes her behaviour.๐
He has been a silent regulator of our marriage in some way because we have a lot of regard for him.
So, this is the man that has impacted my life for over 2 decades!
You are cherished Abusa Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu.
๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐r. ๐๐๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ฎ, ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง Col. Galamukani ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญs ๐๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐.
