Pope Francis Appoints New Apostolic Nuncio for Zambia/Malawi, Bishop for Malawian Diocese

Meanwhile, when Consecrated Bishop for Zomba, Mons. Chaima, who has been serving as the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) will take canonical possession of the Malawian Catholic Diocese that became vacant in October 2021 when Archbishop George Desmond Tambala was transferred to Lilongwe.

The Diocese has been under the temporary leadership of Archbishop Tambala as Apostolic Administrator.

Mons. Chaima was ordained a Priest for the Archdiocese of Blantyre on 4 July 1998. He studied philosophy at St. Anthony’s Major Seminary in Kachebere and theology at St. Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba. 

The Malawian Bishop-elect holds a Licentiate and Doctorate in Pastoral Theology from the Kenya-based Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).

As a Priest, Mons. Chaima has served in various capacities, including Pastoral Secretary in the Archdiocese of Blantyre, Secretary of the late Archbishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye, Director of the Nantwipili Pastoral Centre, and Operations Manager of the Blantyre Archdiocese-owned Nantwipili Filling Station.

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He is set to govern the 3,522 square kilometer Diocese with a population of 263,467 Catholics, according to 2020 statistics. The Diocese is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Blantyre.

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.