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Malawian Archbishop Who Headed Regional Conference, University, Passes On

Late Archbishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye of Malawi’s Lilongwe Archdiocese who died Monday, December 14.

Archbishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye of Malawi’s Lilongwe Archdiocese has passed on at the age of 71.

In a message announcing Archbishop Ziyaye’s passing on shared with ACI Africa, the leadership of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) says the Malawian Prelate died in the Southern African nation of Namibia.

“Archbishop Ziyaye has passed on in the early hours of today, 14th December 2020 in Namibia where he was receiving medical treatment,” ECM Secretary General, Fr. Henry Saindi says in the statement.

The Archbishop who was at the helm of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) from July 2008 to July 2014 has been the Local Ordinary of Lilongwe Archdiocese since 2013.

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As Chairman of AMECEA for six years, the late Archbishop served as the Chancellor of the Kenya-based Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).

Earlier, the late Archbishop had served as 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.

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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.

“Full programme of Funeral and Burial Ceremonies will be announced later,” ECM Secretary General, Fr. Saindi says in the December 14 statement shared with ACI Africa.

“Arrangements are being made to repatriate his body back to Malawi,” Fr. Saindi has told ACI Africa, making reference to the transfer of late Archbishop’s from Namibia.

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.