Bishop Mtumbuka Warns Newly Recruited Employees Against Fraud
By Trifornia Mtawali
Bishop Martin Anwell Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese has challenged the newly recruited staff members and all workers of the diocese to keep away from fraud and corruption because these malpractices injure the less privileged they are meant to serve.
Bishop Mtumbuka stressed on this during an orientation meeting on Friday with the new employees in a five year Community Transformation Project being implemented in the diocese.
Bishop Mtumbuka said corruption is one of the factors contributing to worsening poverty in various societies and it is not only against the laws of the country but also the laws of the Catholic Church hence anyone taking part in such vices has to be punished accordingly.
On another note, Bishop Mtumbuka also expressed gratitude seeing increasing numbers of females showing interest to work with the diocese, which proves that the diocese is an equal opportunity employer. He further added that a lot is to be done in making sure that these female employees get senior and decision making positions as this will strengthen women empowerment as well as gender equality policies.
Speaking after the meeting, the Pastoral Secretary, who also works as Bishop’s Secretary, for Karonga Diocese Father Robert Songa encouraged the youths to be responsible and lead by example in societies they will be working in and refrain from excessive drinking of alcohol to preserve morals in the country.
Father Songa made these remarks following the recruitment of several qualified youths in various positions in the diocese. Community Transformation Project will be implemented at Jalawe in Rumphi District, Kopakopa in Chitipa District, and Chankholombe in Karonga District focusing on issues to do with Agriculture, Health, Education, and Pastoral among others.
APPOINTMENT OF THE VICAR GENERAL OF KARONGA DIOCESE
Announcement
His Lordship Rt. Rev. Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga has appointed Rev. Fr. Laurent Chogawana Dziko as the Vicar General. This follows the passing of Mons. Denis Solomon Chitete, who until his death on 24th December, 2021, was the Vicar General of the Diocese of Karonga.
Monsignor Lorent Chogawana Dziko was born on 28th June, 1968 at Kasina, in Dedza District. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Dedza on 14th September, 2002 at Mua Parish. The late Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Kanyama sent him to the Diocese of Karonga as a Fidei Donum priest on 18th May 2012.
Monsignor Lorent Chogawana Dziko has served in various parishes such as St. Anne’s, St. Mary’s, St. Steven’s, Immaculate Heart of Mary, and currently he is the Parish Priest of St. John Paul II Parish and Moderator of St. Elijah Sub-Parish. He is also the Member of the College of Consultors, the Chairperson of the Diocesan Pastoral Commission, the Dean of Kapoka Deanery, the Diocesan Lay Apostolate Chaplain, the Diocesan Chaplain of the Kolping Society, and the Chairperson of the Diocesan Events Committee.
The appointment of Mons. Lorent Chogawana Dziko as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Karonga illustrates the fact that although a priest is either incardinated to a particular diocese or is a member of a particular religious congregation, he is ultimately a son and servant of the Universal Church which is a great honour that God has bestowed on all of his humble servants.
We all join His Lordship Rt. Rev. Martin Anwel Mtumbuka, in wishing our new Vicar General the very best as his begins, besides his many other pastoral ministries, this challenging but noble ministry in the Diocese of Karonga. We most sincerely assure him of our full support and prayers.
With most sincere best wishes and prayers,
Fr. Joseph M. Sikwese
THE BISHOP’S SECRETARY
Bishop Mtumbuka Hands over Houses to Victims of Violence
By Wezi Mwangonde
Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga has officially handed over 22 houses to victims of violence caused by witchcraft accusations and chieftaincy succession wrangles at a function which took place at Ngerenge in Karonga District.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony, Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka challenged traditional leaders to stop fueling violence in their areas by promoting fairness when settling disputes. The Bishop expressed concern that some conflicts are caused by traditional leaders due to lack of justice when settling disputes.
“The truth is that most of the times violence is caused by traditional leaders because of unfairness in dealing with chieftainship succession, land demarcation and allocation of development projects. Our plea to traditional leaders is to always exercise justice when handling these issues to maintain peace,” said Bishop Mtumbuka.
In his remarks, T/A Kilupula appreciated the peacebuilding efforts of the Diocese of Karonga. He also expressed a word of gratitude for the support the Diocese renders to the people in the area.
He added that traditional leaders have a responsibility to build peace in their areas through closer collaboration with their community members.
“Yes we have a responsibility to bring peace in our communities but there are some individuals who fuel violence but they do not understand the causes very well for example witchcraft accusations which traditional have always spoken against,” explained Kilupula.
With financial support from the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart in Germany, the Caritas Commission of the Diocese of Karonga implemented the “Transforming Conflict and Resettle Internally Displaced People” project. Under the objective of resettling internally displaced people, the Diocese has constructed 8 houses in Chakwera Village, 3 houses in Ngerenge, 1 house in Lupembe, 5 houses at Majaliro, 3 houses at Fulirwa, 1 house in Mwanjabala Village and 1 in Kafikisira Village.
The project has distributed food and other basic household items to 540 victimised and vulnerable households; 210 in Mpata (Mwankenja Mwangonde, Mwawembe Kalambo and Mwentete villages) and 330 in Chakwera Village. The project also engaged 2,500 people in conflict transformation process in the district in the areas of Paramount Chief Kyungu and T/A Kilupula.
Karonga Diocese Priests Trained in Catholic “Scouting”
By Memory Moyo
With an aim of making sure that priests of Karonga Diocese are working hand in hand with Catholic Scouts in their respective parishes, the Diocesan Catholic Scout has trained the priests to understand the concept of scouts.
Speaking in an interview at Mikoma Lodge in Karonga District, the Diocesan Chaplain of Catholic Scouts Fr. Joseph Mkinga said it can be very easy for priests to work together with the scouts if only they know how scout is operating.
“It was difficult for our priests to collaborate with the Scouts because they had limited understanding on how Scouts operate. So I believe that this meeting has enlightened them on the operations of the Scouts,” Father Mkinga narrated.
On his part, one of the participants Fr. Atupele Kuyokwa from St, Ignatius Parish said it has indeed been difficult to work with Scouts in his parish as he was not well acquainted with the principles of Scouts. Therefore Fr. Kuyokwa has appreciated the knowledge gained through the meeting.
“I really appreciate Fr. Mkinga for organizing this meeting with an aim to making us understand how we can work with our Catholic Scouts. Honestly, it was very difficult for us,” Kuyokwa said. The Catholic Scout of the Diocese of Karonga started its official operation on 19th October, 2019, under the initiative of Bishop Aniwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga