Good News!ECM to Distribute Relief Items Worth MK1 billion for Malawi Flood Victims

Items includes; food and Non-food items like Clothes

Arch Bishop Msusa to lead the Bishop at the launch

The Catholic Church in Malawi has raised food and non food relief items valued at K1 billion which its distribution begins this week to all flood victims from all worst affected districts particularly in the southern part of the country.

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) says distribution to be launched on Tuesday 10th March, 2015 by the Bishops, led by the  Chairman, His Grace Most Reverend Thomas Luke Msusa, will take place at January Parish which is in the area of STA Ngolongoliwa in Thyolo district. 

Acting ECM Secretary on the Left and other Bishops

Bishops are also expected to visit people living in shelter camps around the area, says Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo ECM Acting Secretary in a statement 

Submerged houses; T/A Malemia Nsanje district 

"Bishops have planned to visit flood affected victims to show solidarity and give a message of hope. Guided by Psalm 34:18" which reads “The Lord is close to those broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

During one of the recent Holy Mass
 Celebration where ECM encouraged
 Faithful to make contributions

"During the visit, the Bishops are expected to present some of the relief items which were collected from all parishes and institutions in the country and the Caritas family to cater for flood affected dioceses." Reads the statement 

Collapsed schoolblock in Thyolo Thava

The statement has indicated that, the items valued at MK1 billion, the church has managed to raise through its partners and the Church Structures. Addiding that these items  are just for short term sustenance of human life.

Flood affected victims

The statement further indicates that these items which includes money, clothes, food and non food items will go to flood affected communities in Chikwawa, Nsanje, Zomba, Machinga, Mangochi, Phalombe and Ntcheu among other areas.

Submerged houses in Nsanje 

Submerged school in Nsanje district

Drowning home in Nsanje District 

Malawi Catholic Bishops Elects Msusa ECM Chairman, Chimombo Acting Secretary, Fr. Buleya CUNIMA Vice Chancellor

Malawi Catholic Bishops Elects Msusa ECM Chairman, Chimombo Acting Secretary, Fr. Buleya CUNIMA Vice Chancellor

Arch Bishop Thomas Luke Msusa 

The first Annual Plenary Meeting of Episcopal Conference of  Malawi  convened from 26th to 30th January 2015 has elected Arch Bishop for Blantyre Arch Diocese His Grace Thomas Luke Msusa as its Chairman.

The new chairman has been unveiled on Saturday 31st January 2015 at Don Bisco Parish in the Arch Diocese of Lilongwe during the Thanks Giving Mass celebrations for the successful conference of 18th Plenary for Association for Member Episcopal Conferences for East Africa (AMECEA) held last year in July.

During the congregation other office bearers were also announced including the Acting Secretary General for ECM Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo and Vice Chancellor for Catholic University Fr. George Buleya who is taking the post from Professor Anacklet Phiri.

Fr. George Buleya walking upper
Stairs on the right side 

Arch Bishop Msusa is taking the post from the late Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza of Mzuzu diocese who passed away early this year during a car accident. Msusa served as Vice chairman for ECM and later Acting Chairman following Bishop Zuza's death.

In an interview ECM Acting Secretary General Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo clarified that the election of Arch Bishop Msusa follows ECM statutes and not the result of death of Bishop Joseph Zuza.

Fr. Chimombo walking to the left

"Episcopal Conference of Malawi statutes stipulates that every three years elections be held to fill in new office bearers, so 2015 was an election year." He said, "It was coincidence that these elections happened few weeks after the death of the sitting chairman late bishop Zuza."

The chairmanship for Episcopal Conference of Malawi and other posts are valid for three years but one can be elected for two consecutive time.

The other officers elected to run various institutions for ECM for the next three years are; Vice chairman and Bishop Chairman for the Catholic Education Commission His Lordship Bishop Martin Mtumbuka, Bishop Chairman for Catholic Secretariat His Grace Arch Bishop Tarsizio Ziyaye, Bishop Chairman for Pastoral Commission and Chairman for the Health Commission His Lordship Bishop Peter Musikuwa,

Bishop Chairman for Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue His Lordship Bishop Emmanuel Kanyama and Bishop Chairman for the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace His Lordship Bishop Montfort Sitima.