The Malawian-born member of the Montfort Missionaries described the late Archbishop as a “humbled mans” and explained, “If a Priest lost a relative, Archbishop Ziyaye would be present on the day of the funeral at 9 o’clock until the burial was done, something that is not seen in many leaders as they come for Mass only.”
Archbishop Ziyaye served as the Chairman of AMECEA for a six-year period that ended in 2014.
The current Chairman of AMECEA, Bishop Charles Kasonde has mourned the late Archbishop as “a committed servant” of God and the Church.
Members of the Catholic Church in the Eastern African region are “in profound shock to hear about this news about Archbishop Ziyaye whom we remember with warmth, love and respect as a committed servant who loved God and his Church with singlemindedness,” Bishop Kasonde of Zambia’s Solwezi Diocese says in his statement addressed to ECM Chairman, Archbishop Thomas Msusa.
The late Archbishop’s “outstanding humility, spiritual life and discipline leave no doubt in hearts that the Most Rev. has left a big gap that cannot be filled with any other person,” the Zambian Bishop adds.
(Story continues below)
“Be assured of our prayers during these trying times, and may he rest in eternal peace,” the Chairman of the Executive Board of AMECEA adds in his message to ECM members.
When the late Archbishop was AMECEA Chairman, he doubled as Chancellor of the Kenya-based Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
In a statement shared with ACI Africa, the Vice-Chancellor of CUEA, Fr. Stephen Mbugua Ngari, says the leadership of the Institution received the news of Archbishop Ziyaye’s demise with “profound shock and sorrow.”
He says that during Archbishop Ziyaye’s tenure as the Chancellor of CUEA, the AMECEA institution of higher learning “underwent extensive infrastructural expansion.”
At the time of his demise, Archbishop Ziyaye was serving as the Chairman of CUEA’s Board of Trustees (BOT).
“The Trustees (CUEA), together with the University Council lead the drive in implementing CUEA’s Transformation Strategy; implementation of this strategy is at an advanced stage,” Fr. Mbugua says in reference to CUEA BOT that has been under the leadership of the late Archbishop.
“As a University, we will miss His Grace Archbishop Ziyaye’s steadfast leadership and wisdom,” the Kenyan-born Cleric says and quoting the book of Psalm adds, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints.”
The late Archbishop is also being mourned by political leaders in the Southeastern African landlocked country.
In a Facebook post, the country’s President Lazarus Chakwera says that he “learnt with great shock the passing on of Archbishop Tarcisius G. Ziyaye of the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.”
“His faith in Christ, belief in humanity and courage in pursuing justice for all have long been an inspiration to me and so many,” says Malawi’s Head of State.
On their part, Malawi’s Vice President, Saulos Chilima, and his wife, Mary Chilima, who are practicing Catholics, say they are “mortified and immobilized with deep grief” to learn of Archbishop Ziyeya’s demise.
They say in reference to the late Archbishop, “You were an amazing Shepherd and you sought and fought for all God’s children with utmost zeal and undiminishing passion. You stood for the truth and defended the weak and the powerless against all earthly excesses of power and privilege.”
“Our deepest prayer is that from the sanctuary of God’s amazing Kingdom, you continue to pray for our nation never to lose the democratic gains for which you fought with all essence,” Malawi’s Vice President and family add.
The leader of the opposition in Malawi’s Parliament, Kondwani Nankhumwa admires the late Archbishop’s “personal courage and selfless contribution towards the fight against the notorious one-party dictatorship under the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).”
Referencing the 1992 Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops in the country in which the Church leaders in Malawi reproached the government for its authoritarianism, Mr. Nankhumwa adds, “It was that courage coupled with genuine patriotism displayed by Archbishop Ziyaye in cohort with the other famous … Bishops that brought about political freedom and multiparty democracy in Malawi in 1993 and 1994.”
Ordained a Priest in August 1977, the late Archbishop was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Malawi’s Dedza Diocese from 1991 until 1993 when he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Lilongwe.
A year later, he was appointed as the Local Ordinary of Lilongwe, succeeding Bishop Matthias Chimole who had retired aged 78.
In January 2001, the late Archbishop Ziyaye was transferred to Malawi’s Blantyre Archdiocese.
Pope Francis appointed him as the second Local Ordinary of Lilongwe in July 2013, succeeding Archbishop Rémi Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie, a member of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) who retired at the age of 75.
In his message posted on Facebook, the opposition leader in Malawi’s Parliament further says, “I shall always respect the late Archbishop Ziyaye for his exceptional leadership in liturgical worship in the Catholic Church and his strong commitment to the ministerial formation.”
Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.
