Zomba (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Alfred Mateyu Chaima, Bishop
Allan Chamgwera, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 25 April 1959
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Blantyre
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Malawi
Square Kilometers: 3,522 (1,360 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.zombadiocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 115, Zomba, Malawi
Telephone: 881.148.877

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Zomba
- Latin Name: Zombaensis
- Erected: 15 May 1952
- Vicariate
- Country: Malawi

Past and Present Ordinaries

Lawrence Pullen Hardman, S.M.M. † (15 May 1952 Appointed - 21 Sep 1970 Resigned)
Matthias A. Chimole † (21 Sep 1970 Appointed - 20 Dec 1979 Appointed, Bishop of Lilongwe)
Allan Chamgwera (12 Feb 1981 Appointed - 17 Jan 2004 Retired)
Thomas Luke Msusa, S.M.M. (19 Dec 2003 Appointed - 21 Nov 2013 Appointed, Archbishop of Blantyre)
George Desmond Tambala, O.C.D. (15 Oct 2015 Appointed - 15 Oct 2021 Appointed, Archbishop of Lilongwe)
Alfred Mateyu Chaima (5 Jun 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Zomba
15 May 1952	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré (Zomba, Liwonde, Southern Nyassa (Fort Johnston), and Ncheu)	Vicariate Apostolic of Zomba (erected)
29 April 1956	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Likuni (Dedza) Vicariate Apostolic of Zomba (Ncheu)	Vicariate Apostolic of Dedza (erected)
Diocese of Zomba
25 April 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Zomba	Diocese of Zomba
29 May 1969	Territory Lost	Diocese of Zomba (Fort Johnston and most of Kasupe)	Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Johnston (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Zomba

1970 94,137 512,228 18.4% 4 29 33 2,852 37 45 11 ap1971

1978 109,855 556,821 19.7% 16 20 36 3,051 27 47 13 ap1981

1988 154,557 456,913 33.8% 23 15 38 4,067 25 47 13 ap1991

1999 199,428 637,571 31.3% 33 9 42 4,748 16 50 14 ap2000

2000 204,742 652,538 31.4% 35 7 42 4,874 15 54 15 ap2001

2001 206,314 652,538 31.6% 33 8 41 5,032 14 52 15 ap2002

2002 219,455 672,114 32.7% 32 8 40 5,486 14 55 15 ap2003

2003 224,003 677,802 33.0% 37 7 44 5,090 12 62 15 ap2004

2004 229,345 685,541 33.5% 38 5 43 5,333 10 59 15 ap2005

2010 278,183 789,296 35.2% 40 13 53 5,248 17 71 15 ap2011

2014 232,976 822,450 28.3% 39 3 42 5,547 12 69 15 ap2015

2017 244,120 898,930 27.2% 41 2 43 5,677 3 49 15 ap2018

2020 263,467 985,270 26.7% 42 8 50 5,269 20 38 34 ap2021

2022 276,000 1,018,000 27.1% 45 6 51 5,411 26 46 18 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Zomba
1970	94,137	512,228	18.4%	4	29	33	2,852	37	45	11	ap1971
1978	109,855	556,821	19.7%	16	20	36	3,051	27	47	13	ap1981
1988	154,557	456,913	33.8%	23	15	38	4,067	25	47	13	ap1991
1999	199,428	637,571	31.3%	33	9	42	4,748	16	50	14	ap2000
2000	204,742	652,538	31.4%	35	7	42	4,874	15	54	15	ap2001
2001	206,314	652,538	31.6%	33	8	41	5,032	14	52	15	ap2002
2002	219,455	672,114	32.7%	32	8	40	5,486	14	55	15	ap2003
2003	224,003	677,802	33.0%	37	7	44	5,090	12	62	15	ap2004
2004	229,345	685,541	33.5%	38	5	43	5,333	10	59	15	ap2005
2010	278,183	789,296	35.2%	40	13	53	5,248	17	71	15	ap2011
2014	232,976	822,450	28.3%	39	3	42	5,547	12	69	15	ap2015
2017	244,120	898,930	27.2%	41	2	43	5,677	3	49	15	ap2018
2020	263,467	985,270	26.7%	42	8	50	5,269	20	38	34	ap2021
2022	276,000	1,018,000	27.1%	45	6	51	5,411	26	46	18	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Matthias A. Chimole † (Priest: 21 Sep 1947; Bishop: 21 Sep 1970 to 20 Dec 1979)
Lawrence Pullen Hardman, S.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 May 1952; Bishop: 25 Apr 1959 to 21 Sep 1970)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Zomba
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 753, and Page 754
Diocese of Zomba
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 793, to Page 796

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Diocese of Zomba

Dioecesis Zombaensis