Ethiopia’s Rev Berhaneyesus elected Amecea new chairperson
The Archbishop of Addis Ababa Elected has been elected new head of Amecea at an election held in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe on Thursday.
The Catholic Bishops of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (Amecea) elected Most Rev Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa, as chairman during business session of the 18th Amecea Plenary Assembly.
Archbishop Berhaneyesus, as he is known by most Amecea members, takes over from Most Rev. Tarcisio G. Ziyaye of Lilongwe Archdiocese whose mandate as chairman of Amecea has expired. Archbishop Ziyaye has served AMECEA as chairman for six years.
Most Rev Berhaneyesus is the 10th Chairman of Amecea and the first Bishop from Ethiopia to hold that position, according to Fr Chrisantus Ndaga, the communications coordinator of Amecea.
Other countries which held that position in the history of Amecea are Zambia and Uganda (three times each) while Tanzania, Kenya and Malawi have held it once.
Archbishop Berhaneyesus was ordained as a Vincentian priest on July 4, 1976. He was consecrated as a Bishop in 1998 by Cardinal Paulos Tzadua. On 7 July 1999 he succeeded His Eminence Paulos Cardinal Tzadua as Catholic Archbishop of Addis Ababa.
The Chairman of Amecea is elected every three years during the business session of the Plenary meeting. The position is held for a maximum of two terms.
–New office bearers–
Catholic Bishops have also elected and appointed new office bearers to several institutions and bodies of the association, following an election, which was carried out 24th July, 2014, at Bingu International Conference Center (BICC) in Lilongwe Malawi.
Information released to Nation Online stated that the new AmeceaChairman who is also the Chairman of AmeceaExecutive Board and Chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) is Most Rev Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa; Ethiopia.
“Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo from Kakamega Diocese (Kenya) has been given a second term as Secretary General ofAmecea, while Msgr. Pius Rutechura from Bukoba Diocese (Tanzania) has remained the Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (Cuea).
The Bishops also elected trustees who include His Eminence Polycarp Cardinal Pengo (Tanzania), His Eminence John Cardinal Njue (Kenya), Most Rev. Tarcisio Ziyaye (Malawi) and Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria (Kenya)”, reads Amecea statement issued on Friday.
The AMECEA Executive Board Members include Rt. Rev. Tesfaselassie Medhin (Ethiopia), Rt. Rev. Michael Didi (Sudan), Most Rev. Thomas Msusa (Malawi), Rt. Rev. Anthony Zziwa (Uganda), Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo (Kenya), Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde (Zambia) and Rt. Rev.Rogatus Kimario (Tanzania). The name of the representative to the Executive Board from Eritrea will be forwarded at a later date.
Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba (Kenya) has been elected Chairman of Cuea Council while other members include Rt. Rev. Sabino Odoki (Uganda), Rt. Rev. Abraham Desta (Ethiopia), Rt. Rev. Martin Mtumbuka (Malawi), Rt. Rev. Alick (Zambia) and Rt. Rev. Bernadini Mfumbusa (Tanzania).
Cuea Council Representatives from Eritrea and Sudan will be given later.
