MALAWI: Catholic Church Mourns the death of Bishop Emmanuel Kanyama
By Prince Henderson, Communications Officer
On Saturday, 17th, February, 2018, the Catholic faithful in Malawi woke up to the shocking news of the death one of its Bishops, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Cosmas Kanyama of Dedza.
Cosmas Kanyama
Late Bishop Kanyama had gone to see his old mother in Kapili, Mchinji on Friday but as he wanted to return back to Dedza, he felt unwell and decided to spend a night in Mchinji. Sadly, on Saturday morning, relatives noted that the Bishop was not waking up and decided to check on him in his bedroom where he was found very weak.
Reports indicate that the Bishop was rushed to Kapiri Health Centre where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. According to the medical report, Bishop Kanyama died of High Blood Pressure.
The late Bishop Emmanuel Kanyama was born on 25th December, 1962 at Kanyama Village, Traditional Authority Kasumbu in Dedza District. He came from a devoted and pastorally active Catholic family. He completed his primary and secondary education in Dedza, his home District and followed his priestly studies at St. Anthony Kachebere Major Seminary where he was awarded the Diploma in Philosophy. He proceeded with Theology studies at St. Peter’s Major Seminary where he was awarded Bachelor’s Degree in Theology.
The late Bishop Kanyama was ordained Priest on 4th August, 1990 at Mtendere Parish where his parents settled. From 1990 to I992, he was Lecturer at St. Kizito Minor Seminary in the Diocese of Dedza. From 1992 to 1996, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kanyama studied at the Pontifical University of Urbaniana in Rome from where he was awarded a Licentiate and Doctorate Degrees in Philosophy.
After his studies, he was appointed Lecturer in Philosophy at St. Anthony Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji, where he also was in the office of the Acting Rector for six years. From 2004, he was appointed Parish Priest in Ntcheu. At the same time, he was serving as a member of the College of Consultors for the Diocese of Dedza and Lecturer of Philosophy at St. Anthony Major Seminary in Kachebere.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kanyama Bishop of the Diocese of Dedza on 4th July 2007. On 6th October 2007, Rev. Fr. Kanyama was consecrated and installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Dedza at Bembeke Cathedral. He succeeded Bishop Joseph Gustave Sainte-Marie M. Afr. who was transferred to the Diocese of Lilongwe succeeding Bishop Felix Mkhori.
At Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) level, Bishop Kanyama held among others, the following positions: Chairman for the Council of the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA), Bishop Chairman for the Catholic Education Commission, Bishop Chairman for Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue, Bishop Chairman for Social Communications and Research Commission and ECM Board of Trustee for Ecumenical Counselling Centre (ECC).
At AMECEA Regional level, Bishop Kanyama was a Council Member of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), a position he has held for the last six years. He was also a substitute Board Member of AMECEA Executive Board.
The Late Bishop Kanyama was laid to rest at the Holy Family Cathedral Parish Bembeke, Dedza Diocese on 21 February 2018.
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By Prince Henderson, Communications Officer
