Bishop of Zomba
Msgr. Alfred Chaima was born on 14 July 1970 in Nambera, archdiocese of Blantyre. He attended the Saint Pius XII Minor Seminary, and studied philosophy in Saint Anthony’s Major Seminary in Kachebere and theology in Saint Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba, obtaining a diploma in theology from the University of Malawi. He was ordained a priest on 4 July 1998 for the archdiocese of Blantyre. Following ordination, he first served as a teacher at Saint Patrick’s secondary school and vicar of the Mzedi parish (1998-2000), parish priest of the Njuli parish (2000-2001), and rector and teacher at the Saint Pius XII Seminary (2000-2004). He was awarded a bachelor’s degree in theology, a licentiate in pastoral theology, and a doctorate in theological philosophy from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, in Nairobi (2004-2010). He went on to hold the roles of professor at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (2006-2010 and 2016-2022), secretary to the archbishop of Blantyre and archdiocesan chancellor (2010-2012), deputy parish priest of the Cathedral and coordinator of the archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, Limbe (2010-2014), director of the Nantipwili Pastoral Centre, archdiocese of Blantyre (2014-2022), and professor at the University of Malawi (2015-2022). Until now he has served as secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi.