Bishop Chaima urges for unity and collaboration in Zomba Diocese

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Zomba, Rt. Rev. Alfred Mateyu Chaima, has urged the Clergy in Zomba Diocese to continue promoting unity and enhance collaboration for the better progress and development of the Diocese. 

The Bishop said this during the Presbyterium Meeting which took place at Thondwe Pastoral Centre on Tuesday 18th August, 2026.

The Diocesan leader thanked the clergy for the support they are giving to the Diocese and encouraged them to do more on faith formation of the laity, apart from ensuring discipline during liturgical celebration by giving catechesis to them people while the Clergy remain exemplary during liturgical rites. He reminded the Clergy on the importance of teaching the laity about the stole fees on some sacraments and urged them to do some developments at all the institutions they live.

The Prelate also appealed to the Clergy to give space to the youth by including them in pastoral programmes so that they should not feel sidelined in the Church. The Youth should always be active in the Church and they should be guided properly by regularly accompanying them. 

The Bishop announced that the Diocese will have Health Board extending it from one Hospital Board that was there so that all issues concerning health care centres should be addressed at once through this Board. 

During the Meeting, the Pastoral Secretary and Pontifical Mission Society Director, Fr. Anthony Chidumu and Fr. Samuel Mangulenje respectively, updated the Clergy on the Children Congress and Eucharistic Congress that would be taking place in the Diocese from 20th to 22 August, 2026 and 3rd to 5th September 2026 respectively.  Fr. Mangulenje emphasized that all the preparations for the Children Congress are ready for the event at Zomba Catholic Secondary School and Zomba Cathedral where the opening mass cum sessions and closing mass will take place respectively

During the meeting, there were several presentations on contracts of the workers in the institutions by Zomba District Labour Officer, celebration and the validity of marriage according to Civil Law by the Judicial Vicar, Fr. Gracious Makande and Health Awareness Talk on non-Communicable Diseases by Dr. Munthali Family.

Zomba Diocese has twenty parishes which are grouped in five deaneries and has close to 300, 000 Christians and catechumens.