Malawi Rumphi –Women in areas of Mzokoto and Mphompha have commended the CCJP- Mzuzu Diocese Land Rights for Women Project for supporting to secure land tenure for organic farming, which has led to an enhanced economic empowerment, improved household food security, and greater self-reliance.

The women expressed these sentiments on 14thJanuary 2025 during the issuance of customary Land titles to the 73 women (project beneficiaries) at Mzokoto T/A Mwankhunikila.

CCJP- Mzuzu Diocese Coordinator, Felix Manda explained the project focuses on securing customary land titles for the marginalized women (divorced widows, single mothers and unmarried girls). Manda added that in Rumphi the project targets to support 100 more women in addition to the 73 women who have already secured their land.

The project also empowers women to apply agro-ecological and organic farming methods to realize their rights to food and social economic development.

Northern Region Deputy Director for Quality Assurance in the Ministry of Lands, Ruth Banda appreciated the efforts of CCJP in Mzuzu diocese for helping the government to implement a new Customary Land Act that empowers citizens to secure their land hence protecting it from being sold to strangers.

The Director of Social Development, who is also the Vicar general of Mzuzu Diocese, Fr Isaac John Katumbi complemented the development saying that the Diocese is pleased with the outcome of the project and its impact as this transformation of women’s lives is within the Mzuzu Diocese goal of achieving a holistic evangelization of both spiritual and social- economic development of people in the diocese.

Cecilia Nyasulu who got divorced and returned to her parents’ home is one of the beneficiaries of the project. Her life has greatly transformed as she is able to farm a variety of crops and sale some. From the profit realized through sale of extra produce, Nyasulu is able to pay school fees for her secondary school child.

Land Rights for women project implemented in Mzuzu diocese is funded by Misereor in Germany, aims at empowering women specifically widows and divorced to have access land to Land for organic farming, breaking the northern region’s cultural belief that ownership of land belongs to men.

By Staff Reporter

The project aimed at enhancing gender equality and promote the right to education for girls in Mzuzu Diocese (June 2022–May 2025), funded with EUR 465,000 by Misereor and implemented in four parishes in Kasungu, Mzimba, and Rumphi districts. It responded to persistent gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, and poverty that expose girls to defilement, early marriage, and school dropout, and it used data from routine reports and stakeholder consultations, including girls themselves, to assess progress.

Objective 1: Parents’ mindset and support

• Objective 1 sought mindset change among parents/guardians regarding equal education rights for girls and boys, and results show all three indicators surpassed targets at endline. ​
• 2877 of 3500 targeted parents/guardians (82%) changed socio-cultural beliefs and practices to support equality in education (target 80%), and 3026 (86%) took actionable steps to prevent early and forced marriages (target 70%).
• 3377 of 4000 targeted girls (84%) completed primary education without disruption from early marriage or teenage pregnancy (target 80%); survey data from attendance registers confirmed similar performance (82%).
•  These achievements are attributed mainly to strengthened Parents and Guardians Education Advocacy Groups (PGEAG) and project volunteers, who received advocacy and lobbying training and engaged communities to discourage harmful practices like accepting dowry at the expense of girls’ schooling.

Objective 2: Protection and safeguarding systems

• Objective 2 aimed to improve protection and safeguarding systems so they effectively protect girls’ right to education in schools and communities.
• Confirmed defilement cases recorded by the Ministry of Health increased from 49 at baseline to 104 at endline (212% of baseline) against an intended 50% reduction, which the report interprets as a sign of improved reporting and awareness rather than increased incidence alone.
• CCJP supported five defilement cases in magistrate courts; three were successfully decided in favour of the girls (60% success versus a target of 100%), with some losses linked to alleged bribes that led families to misrepresent ages and consent.
• Five community by-laws to protect girls’ rights and education were developed and enforced with district councils, and their enforcement helped 3377 girls (84% of the 4000 targeted) complete primary school without disruption.
• Overall, the report concludes that protection and safeguarding systems became more responsive, as indicator performance was above average and close to targets, despite not all targets being met.

Objective 3: Re-admission  and retention

• Objective 3 focused on effective, responsive re-admission strategies for girls who had dropped out of school.
• Only 128 girls were re-admitted in targeted schools using the national re-admission policy, against an ambitious target of 1010 (12.7% achievement), and the report explicitly notes that this target was unrealistic and insufficiently revised during implementation.
• Of the 128 re-admitted girls, 120 (about 93%) successfully completed primary education, exceeding the 80% completion target and showing that once re-admitted, girls largely stayed and finished school.​
• The project concludes that, although the absolute number of re-admissions was much lower than planned, the re-admission strategies in place were effective and responsive for those who did return, and enforcement of the policy did promote education rights for this group.​

For a detailed analysis of the project download below:

By Staff Reporter

The Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM) of the Mzuzu Diocese is implementing the A+ Successor Project in the areas of Traditional Authorities Mwahenga and Katumbi in Rumphi District, with financial support from Caritas Australia. Monsignor Isaac John Katumbi, Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu and Director of Social Development, conducted monitoring activities on Wednesday, 10^th December 2025, in Ntchenachena, Rumphi, where he expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project and called for continued collaboration between the project team, beneficiaries and the wider community.

During the visit, Monsignor Katumbi observed the Livestock Pass-On initiative, in which beneficiary Estery Thamusi, who received three goats last year, passed on two healthy goats to fellow community member Patrick Kamulana, thereby extending the reach of the intervention. He further inspected Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities, including the provision of communal tap water, the use of vision maps developed by Chimyanga and Chiunganya Village Development Committees, and practical cooking demonstrations aimed at improving household nutrition and hygiene.

Other interventions visited included support provided to people living with disabilities, as well as welding and tailoring workshops where trained beneficiaries are now engaged in productive work after receiving vocational skills through the project. One such beneficiary, William Nyirenda, expressed gratitude to CADECOM-Mzuzu Diocese, noting that the vocational skills initiative has promoted economic empowerment among local youth.

A+ Project Coordinator, Henry Simukonda, commended the beneficiaries for positively embracing the project and expressed optimism that more people would be reached through ongoing interventions, particularly the expansion of tap water supply and livestock pass-on activities.

Later in the day, Monsignor Katumbi launched an improved seed distribution initiative for the 2025/26 growing season, through which farmers received improved seed varieties to bolster food and nutritional security in the targeted communities; he was accompanied by CADECOM Coordinator Dan Zimba and Diocesan Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Kondwani Kamphekete.

The A+ Project is a five-year livelihood programme focusing on agriculture and food security, water, hygiene and sanitation, environmental management, and enterprise development, and it seeks to strengthen the resilience and self-reliance of vulnerable households within the Mzuzu Diocese.

Pictorial focus

Mzuzu- Malawi Thousands of people gathered at St Peters Cathedral and later at Katoto Cemetery to give their last respect to Father Benjamin Vitumbiko Banda who died on Wednesday 12 November 2025 afternoon during a tragic road accident along Chikangawa M1 road in Mzimba district on his way from his mother’s village Embangweni , in the same district.

Fr Banda`s Requiem mass was held on 15 November 2025 at St Peter’s Cathedral following the vigil mass on 14th November 2025. Speaking to the mourners, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu Right Reverend Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda, said the Diocese has lost a young, energetic and dedicated priest.

“His death has shocked many and broken many hearts but as Christians we must find comfort in the lord, let us believe and have faith in God that death is not the end.” the bishop said.

Many people have described the death of Fr Benjamin as a great lost to the diocese, to the family, to the youths and to the diocesan priests’ community.

Speaking of behalf of the Association of Diocesan priests of Malawi in Mzuzu Diocese, Fr Yotum Msumba, said just in four years late Fr Banda has served in the Diocese, he has done a lot, his life summarizes how we need to be living, we thank the Lord for the gift in the ADCOM family.

Diocesan Youth Chairperson Aaron Mkandawire said they learned a lot from Fr Banja and the youths of Mzuzu diocese will miss the leadership of their chaplain. Until his death Father Banda was a parish priest at St Johns Mzambazi Parish and Diocesan Youth Chaplain.

Fr Banda has served for 4 years, was ordained to priesthood on 30 October 2021 at St Theresa Parish by Bishop Emeritus of Mzuzu Diocese Right Reverend John Ryan. On the time of his death, he was serving as a parish priest of St John the Baptist at Mzambazi.

One of the Parishioners of St Johns Mzambazi Parish Laurencia Nkosi said late Fr Banda brought several developments at the parish saying his presence and love for the church will be missed.

Fr Banda was born on 19 January 1994 and hails from Kanyemba village, St Theresa Parish traditional Authority Mabulabo in Mzimba district.

St Joseph Parish Hewe, Rumphi- Malawi -On Sunday 19 October 2025, the Catholic church globally celebrated the 99th World Mission Sunday.

The Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu Monsignor Isaac John Katumbi stressed the importance of contributions towards missionary work.

The Vicar made the remarks at Kamphenda Outstation St Joseph Mkasa parish during the celebration of World Mission Sunday.

He said christians must pray for the mission, live the exemplary life of Jesus and also use their resources which will help in spreading of the gospel.

Reflecting on the theme of 2025 World Mission Sunday “Missionaries of Hope among all People”the Vicar General called on christians to live with hope and share the same with others especially those in need.

PMS Director for Mzuzu Fr Gondwe thanked Christians for contributing generously towards the missionary work and urged Christian to continue supporting the missionary work.

The funds collected on this Sunday are sent to Rome to help in propagating the faith around world and St Joseph Mkasa Parish contributed more than MK200,000 during the event.

The mission Sunday was set aside to renew its commitment to the missionary work under the theme “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples.”.

As one way of eradicating child marriages in Mzuzu diocese, Catholic commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) through Right to Education for a Girl Child project, has trained women volunteers on how to stop child marriages in the diocese.

The training which was being facilitated by St John of God psychotherapist has equipped participants with knowledge on the effects of child marriages and the importance of girl’s education.

The Vicar General of Mzuzu Diocese Monsignor John Isaac Katumbi who was present during the training, praised CCJP for this project saying it is helping young girls understand the importance of education and the negative effects of early marriages.

Mzuzu diocese CCJP coordinator Felix Manda, said the project seeks to protect young girls from early marriages and ensure they pursue their education without challenges.

Manda further said they used St John of God specialist because they have the expertise on psychosocial counselling which can help the volunteers to provide good information to the young girls.

“When some girls are withdrawn from their marriages, they need psychosocial counseling which St John of God expert is training the women so that when they go home, they should also provide the same service to young girls.

Thandi Mkandawire a psychotherapist from St John of God who was the facilitator, advised the women to understand the root cause that is making young girls get married, in doing so they will be it will be easy for them to deal with the problems.

One of the volunteers Ezelina Chirambo from St Cecilia Parish said the knowledge that she has gained through the training will help her successful fulfill her job back home.

About 50 women from St Cecilia Parish, St Joseph Mukasa Parish, Holy Family Parish and Holy Cross Parish have benefited from the training.