President Lazarus Chakwera has praised the advice he receives from religious leaders, saying it shows their love for Malawi.
In recent days, members of the clergy, prominent among them being Karonga Diocese’s Bishop Martin Mtumbuka, have challenged the President to save the country from the current economic turbulence.
The religious leaders have also repeatedly faulted the Malawi Congress Party-led administration’s purported failure to decisively fight corruption.
And speaking yesterday at Zomba Catholic Secondary School Ground, after the consecration of Alfred Mateyu Chaima as bishop of Zomba Diocese of the Catholic Church, Chakwera said when religious leaders speak, they speak openly and truly.
“I also love their advice because it comes with love for Malawians. Their advice is always passionate and their desire is for Malawi to progress spiritually, socially and economically,” the President said.
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He further indicated that it has been helpful for him to associate with the bishops and other religious leaders because of their humility.
Bishop Chaima asked Catholic priests, sisters and brothers to unite in serving the church.
“I also call upon the people in the diocese to move together in oneness,” the newly consecrated church leader said.
The episcopal consecration of Bishop Chaima was the sixth in Zomba Diocese.
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Earlier in the day, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, who previously served as bishop of Zomba Diocese and now leads Lilongwe Archdiocese, led the event’s Mass.
Born in 1970 at Chiwalo Village, Traditional Authority Chiwalo in Phalombe, Chaima has served as Secretary General for the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and worked as a lecturer at the University of Malawi, the Catholic University of Malawi, the Catholic University of Eastern Tangaza College and the Gaba Pastoral Institute in Kenya.
He was appointed bishop of Zomba by Pope Francis in June this year.
The diocese had been without a substantive bishop since October 2021 when Tambala was appointed archbishop of Lilongwe Archdiocese.
