Encounters with Bishop Zuza
We have all heard so much from many people over the last one week on how shocked they all were with the sudden death of Bishop Joseph Zuza of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu, following a road accident. I have had the privilege of knowing Bishop Zuza, at least over the last 12 years or so. I want us to share on the lessons that we can draw from what has been an amazing life of Bishop Zuza.
The media have covered to a good degree one attribute of Zuza– his courage and bravery. What has not been shared much and, yet possibly a bigger attribute of Bishop Zuza, is his humility. Being Bishop of a Diocese made Zuza a very influential person. However, Zuza had this natural characteristic of a very humble and common person that is easy to approach and relate with anybody.
A young lady narrated of how she had worked at one of the Catholic organisations around the Bishop’s offices. She said during her first three months, she noticed that there was one gentleman who used to wear ‘safari’ shirts and he would chat and laugh with anybody at the Office Complex. With time, she noticed that she had not yet ‘met’ Bishop Zuza. When she asked one of her workmates to show her Bishop Zuza, she was surprised to know that the Bishop was the very simple person she had chatted and laughed with for three months without imposing himself as a big man.
When you visit the Bishop’s house, Zuza will open the gate for you, open doors for you, serve you with Fanta and open the bottle for you and so on. I belong to an association of the alumni of St. Patrick’s Seminary. Bishop Zuza was also an alumnus of the same school. Each year, on the March 17, we visit the school for the celebrations of the Patron Saint for the seminary, St. Patrick’s Day. Sometimes, Bishop Zuza would also attend the event. Many will remember him for being the most vocal supporter of the alumni football team in games against current seminarians.
I don’t know where he would source it but Bishop Zuza would usually have a bucket of water and some cups and periodically, he would be coming onto the touch line and identify any of the alumni that looked tired or thirsty and he would serve them with water. I was one of the beneficiaries of his generosity and humility last March. Meanwhile, Zuza would be exchanging jokes and laughter with several of the alumni while they support their alumni team. He was very comfortable among different people. He was being himself. No pretence, no making up. Being what he is and the good that he is.
Whenever Bishop Zuza was to preside over big Holy Mass–be it at ordination or when he is visiting any of the parishes or outstations in his diocese, he would arrive at the venue for the mass one or two hours before the start of the mass. This allowed him to go round greeting and talking to people that have come from far. He would laugh with everyone. He would chat with everyone.
And this attribute of Zuza is what I want to learn from the life he spent on earth. As I grow as a leader, I want to remember the soft side of Bishop Zuza as a leader. I need to find time to relate with people of different backgrounds. I need to find time to be simpler and more approachable. We all do these things but the question is whether we are doing enough of it? I think I can do more than I currently do. Transformation starts with acceptance–accepting that we can still improve. If we are in denial, we will not improve, while those who accept will go past us as they improve. Zuza’s life should touch every leader be it a politician or a corporate leader–small business owner, NGO leaders, civil society leaders, literary everyone. Good luck as you reflect to draw lessons from my encounters with Bishop Zuza.
