Archives 2025

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.

Bamama ba Chitemwano Movement under the Northern Deanery in the Catholic Diocese of Mzuzu, on Sunday 12 October 2025 concluded the four-day Annual Deanery Meeting at St Denis Parish in Rumphi district.

Speaking on Sunday during the closing mass, Chaplain for the movement at Deanery level, Father Peter Ndolo hailed the women coming in large numbers and for their active participation during the meeting.

Father Ndolo has reminded the women to keep the faith and emulate Mother Mary who served the lord faithfully despite the challenges they face in serving the Lord.

“As pilgrims of hope we shouldn’t give up in serving the Lord no matter the situations, we should be like our Master Jesus Christ who suffered for our sake, but he never gave up until he accomplished his mission, “he said.

Diocesan Chairperson for Bamama ba Chitemwano movement, Theresa Chirwa, advised their fellow members to unite and support other church movements to promote the growth of the church.

One of the members, Anastanzia Luhanga, said that the lessons learnt will help them to take care of their families and spiritual growth.

Some of the lessons covered included the social teachings of the Catholic church, Sacraments, Leadership skills.

2,873 members from 4 parishes attended 2025 Northern Deanery AGM.

Mzuzu Diocese Catholic Women Association (CWA) held its Annual General Meeting from October 9-12, 2025, at St. Theresa Parish-Katete, bringing together over 150 women from across the diocese.

The meeting provided a platform for women to share reports on how they have worked in their parishes and have different lessons on spiritual and physical growth.

Speaking after the closing Mass Celebration, St Therese Parish Priest Father Sam Ng’oma, said it was a wonderful AGM which has really helped the women to grow in faith.

Father Ng’oma encouraged the women to take the lessons they have been taught seriously and also share with others in their respective parishes.

“They should keep the lessons and resolutions that we have made on the AGM seriously, and also when they go home, they should become agents of evangelization and spread the love of Christ to their friends and families.”

CWA chairperson Catherine Nyangulu said a number of programs were lined up and have been fulfilled which shows that the meeting has been a success.

She further said the lessons have helped them spiritually and physically.

During the AGM, annual reports were presented from all the deaneries in the Catholic diocese of Mzuzu.

The AGM featured a retreat and informative sessions on Catholic teachings, mental health, good parenting, fertilizer making, and soap making.

On Tuesday 7 October 2025 Mzuzu Diocese Children joined fellow catholic children worldwide in the annual 1 Million Children Praying the Rosary campaign.

Despite being a school day, more children managed to gather at St Peters Cathedral of the Diocese and pray the rosary.

Before the prayers, children started listening to the history of the 1 million rosary for Peace and unity and its importance to children and world .

The Vicar General of Mzuzu Diocese Father John Isaac Katumbi who was present during the prayers said if the children are introduced to rosary prayers earlier it will help the children to grow in faith.

“If they learn to pray the rosary at this stage, they will grow up praying the most powerful prayer in the church,” said Monsignor Katumbi.

Trinity Nyirenda a Sunday school teacher asked parents to be sending their children to Sunday school for lessons and Catholic teachings.

One of the children who attended the prayers Mtende Mkandawire said she has learnt that she should be praying the rosary every day.

One Million Children Praying the Rosary is held in conjunction with the Feast of the Virgin of the Holy Rosary under the office of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Malawi