Zomba Diocese gets new bishop
T
he Catholic faithful in the country yesterday woke up to the long-awaited news of Pope Francis’ appointment of the Very Reverend Father Alfred Mateyu Chaima as bishop-elect of Zomba Diocese.
Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, who is Zomba Diocese’s apostolic administrator, announced Chaima’s appointment through a letter dated June 5 2023.
“His Holiness Pope Francis has today appointed the Very Reverend Fr Alfred Mateyu Chaima from the Archdiocese of Blantyre as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Zomba.
“The announcement is being made today, Monday, June 5 2023 at noon at the Vatican City,” reads part of the letter.
Tambala, a former bishop of Zomba Diocese who is president of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), has since asked the local Catholic community to join the bishops in congratulating the bishop-elect on his appointment.
Bishop-elect Chaima, who comes from Nambera Village, Traditional Authority Chiwalo in Phalombe District, was born on July 14 1970 and did his philosophical and theological studies at St Anthony (Kachebere) Major Seminary in Mchinji and St Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba.
He was ordained to priesthood on July 4 1998 by emeritus Archbishop of Blantyre James Chiona, now deceased, at Limbe Cathedral.
Chaima has Licentiate in Pastoral Theology and a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology obtained from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.
As a priest, he has held various appointments and pastoral engagements, including being board chairperson for the Christian Health Association of Malawi, lecturer at the University of Malawi, Chancellor College and the Catholic University of Malawi.
Until his appointment, Chaima was serving as ECM secretary general, a position he held for less than a year after serving as pastoral secretary for the Archdiocese of Blantyre for several years.
The office of the bishop of Zomba fell vacant in October 2021 following the appointment of Tambala as Archbishop of Lilongwe.
Tambala said Chaima’s installation date will be announced in due course.
