MALAWI: As Famine Grips Dowa District, Catholic Foundation Launches Emergency Food Relief
CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF LILONGWE
Brenard Mwanza
Tiwale Limodzi Foundation, the social arm of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, has provided food relief to 180 hunger-stricken households around Christ the King Nambuma Parish in Dowa, following severe drought and poor rainfall that devastated the 2024–2025 farming season.
The intervention was made possible through support from the U.S.-based O’Neill Foundation, Centenary Bank of Malawi, and resources mobilized during the foundation’s July 5, 2025, launch at Maula Cathedral. Their contributions enabled the purchase and distribution of relief maize, prioritized for the elderly, persons with disabilities, child-headed households, and families in critical need. More than 4,149 people in the area are currently facing acute food shortages.
Brian Odhiambo, Chief Executive Officer of Tiwale Limodzi Foundation, said during the distribution this week that the assistance comes at a crucial time for affected communities.
“Although thousands of families have been affected by this year’s drought, we prioritized the most vulnerable households,” he said. “This support from our partners allows us to respond to the President’s declaration of a national hunger disaster while also working toward long-term, climate-resilient solutions.”
Odhiambo added that the foundation is scaling up initiatives such as afforestation, ecological cooking technologies, and the provision of farm inputs “to ensure that families are empowered and can become self-reliant.”
The O’Neill Foundation provided significant backing, strengthening the Church’s response to hunger in the district. At the same time, Centenary Bank, owned by the Archdiocese, donated K5 million (approximately USD 2,900) to support the relief effort. “We are not just here to operate as a bank; we are here to touch lives,” said Mrs. Linda Simwaka Nkosi, Marketing and Customer Experience Manager at Centenary Bank. “Supporting Tiwale Limodzi Foundation aligns with our commitment to transforming the communities we serve.” She noted that the bank will continue to partner with the foundation on future interventions.
Local pastoral leadership had earlier raised alarms about the growing crisis. Rev. Fr. Maxwell Kubalasa, parish priest of Christ the King Nambuma, reported a sharp decline in church harvest contributions, less than half of previous years, signaling severe food stress among parishioners. “We knew the situation would be dire,” he said.
Fr. Kubalasa shared the matter to Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, who then mobilized a coordinated response through Tiwale Limodzi Foundation with the support of Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Mwakhwawa.
Beneficiaries described the donation as a lifeline. “The past days have been very tough; we had no food at home,” said Rajan Chimwaza of Traditional Authority Kabudula. “This maize will help us sustain ourselves.”
Koleta Foster of Kabweramchombo Village also expressed gratitude, saying the support “came at a critical moment” for her household.
Tiwale Limodzi Foundation – which means “Let’s Shine Together” – coordinates social outreach programs across the Archdiocese of Lilongwe. The foundation says it will continue monitoring the hunger situation and is appealing for additional partners to ensure all affected families receive assistance.
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