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Lilongwe Catholic Archdiocese in Malawi Establishes Legal Affairs Office to Bolster Mission of Justice and Peace

Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe
ACI Africa Staff

By ACI Africa Staff

Lilongwe, 26 January, 2026 / 7:58 pm (ACI Africa).

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe in Malawi has established a new Office of the Director of Legal Affairs, Compliance and Social Justice to strengthen the Church’s mission of promoting justice and peace.

In a statement announcing the establishment of the office, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala says that the office seeks “to strengthen legal coordination, institutional governance, compliance with civil law, and the Church’s mission of justice and peace.”

Archbishop Tambala says that the office, under the leadership of Fr. John Kaliwamba, “shall serve as the central legal unit of the Archdiocese, providing professional legal services to the administration, Parishes, institutions, and all affiliated entities.”

Additionally, the Malawian member of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites (OCD) says the office “shall operate under the authority of the Archbishop and report directly to him or to a designated Curial authority.”

“The Office shall also oversee the legal aspects of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace as restructured under this framework and shall work in close collaboration with Lloyds and Associates, the Archdiocese’s Legal Practitioners,” Archbishop Tambala says  in the statement issued on Friday, January 23.

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The Archbishop further outlines the legal functions of the office, which he said will include serving as the first point of contact for all legal matters within the Archdiocese.

He says the office will have the mandate of drafting and reviewing contracts, agreements, policies, and legal instruments, ensuring compliance with Malawian law and Church regulations and also managing litigation and dispute resolution in collaboration with Lloyds and Associates.

Archbishop Tambala says that the office will also be responsible for supervising land and property matters, including registration and verification of titles.

The office, he further states, will also provide legal advice on employment and labour law, manage immigration and work permit processes for expatriate Clergy and staff, and maintain a central register of legal cases, contracts, and legal opinions.

According to the statement, the office is also tasked with conducting legal risk assessments and compliance audits, coordinating legal training and awareness programmes, and supporting sound corporate governance in Archdiocesan institutions.

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“All legal documents issued by any Archdiocesan department, commission, or institution that affect legal relationships must be reviewed and approved by this office,” Archbishop Tambala says.

He also discloses that the new office will work closely with key departments to ensure consistent legal oversight and compliance.

The office will also provide the Human Resource Office with “legal guidance on employment contracts, labour disputes, disciplinary processes, and compliance with labour laws.” And will also promote fair labour practices.

The office will also supervise immigration and work permit processing in collaboration with the Immigration Department, and will liaise with immigration authorities to ensure compliance with national immigration laws.

On land matters, the office will work with the Lands Office to oversee the registration of Church land, verify land titles, handle boundary disputes, and advise on the acquisition, disposal, and development of Church property.

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Archbishop Tambala further says that the office will support the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, offering legal oversight for advocacy and civic education programmes and handling legal matters related to human rights work.

The office, according to the Archbishop’s statement, will also support legal clinics in parishes and ensure compliance with both national laws and Church directives.

Furthermore, the office will play a key role in policy formulation and capacity building. It will draft and review Archdiocesan policies, conduct training for Clergy, religious, staff, and boards of governance, and promote a culture of legal awareness and compliance.

To ensure the office is operationalized promptly, Archbishop Tambala issues several directives.  He instructs the Financial Administrator to allocate suitable office space within the Archdiocesan Administration Offices immediately.

The Human Resource Manager in the Metropolitan See has also been directed to formalize the Director’s contract of employment without delay, in accordance with Archdiocesan policies and labour laws.

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The Archdiocese urges all departments and institutions to cooperate fully with the new office to ensure effective functioning.

“The establishment of this office is a strategic step towards strengthening legal oversight and ensuring that the Archdiocese operates in full compliance with both Church and national laws,” Archbishop Tambala says.

He adds, “We call on all departments to cooperate fully with the Office of Legal Affairs, Compliance and Social Justice to ensure its successful operationalization.”

ACI Africa Staff

ACI Africa was founded in 2019. We provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, giving particular emphasis to the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See, to any person with access to the internet. ACI Africa is proud to offer free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites, in order to increase awareness of the activities of the universal Church and to foster a sense of Catholic thought and culture in the life of every Catholic.