Rt. Rev. Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza, Bishop of the Diocese of Mzuzu in Northern Malawi, died on Thursday afternoon, January 15, 2015, as a result of a tragic car accident on the M1 Road between Chikangawa and Mzuzu. He was driving alone coming from his home where he had gone for a rest after Christmas to Mzuzu, his official residence.
Nobody witnessed the accident and it was not ascertained how long the bishop was on the road between the accident and the eventual rescue by Fr. Filianus Eka, M. Afr. who was on a bus also heading to Mzuzu from Lilongwe. When he was discovered, Bishop Zuza had been ejected from the car and was covered in mud off the road. At this time he could still talk. He did not show any signs of external injuries. Anyway, transport was quickly organized to take the bishop to St. John’s Hospital, Mzuzu.
The hospital staff did what they could to save the bishop’s life, but in the meantime it was discovered that Bishop Zuza has had severe internal injuries and he died a few hours later, the same afternoon.
At the scene of the accident, the car he was driving, a Toyota double cabin, showed a burst rear tyre. The car must have swerved, overturned, pointing in the opposite direction.
Bishop Zuza’s Funeral and Requiem Mass took place on Monday, January 19, 2015, in the grounds of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Thousands of people braced the heavy rains to attend the funeral. They came from all over the country. All bishops from all the dioceses of Malawi were there.
More than 100 priests and religious were present. The president of the Republic of Malawi, H.E. Peter A. Mutharika and the Vice President, Hon. Saulos Chilima were in attendance. There were priests from Tanzania as well as the Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata Diocese, Zambia.
After the Mass, Bishop Zuza was laid to rest in the premises of St. Peter’s Cathedral of the Diocese of Mzuzu. The mammoth crowd at the funeral was a clear testimony of who and what Bishop Zuza meant to so many people. Many will remember him as a humble, friendly but courageous Bishop. Mzuzu Diocese has lost a dedicated and zealous Pastor. It goes without saying that many people miss him as friend.
At the time of his death, Bishop Zuza was the Chairman of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and Chancellor of the Catholic University of Malawi among other high profile offices.
May he rest in God’s Eternal Peace!
Links:
Requiem Mass set for Monday – Bishop Zuza, Malawi
http://www.ecmmw.org/new/2015/01/20/bishop-joseph-mukasa-zuzas-burial-laid-to-rest-at-st-peters-cathedral/ http://www.afriem.org/2015/01/rest-peace-bishop-zuza/ http://amecea.blogspot.com/2015/01/malawi-thousands-attend-funeral-of.html http://www.ecmmw.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_9368.jpg http://malawivoice.com/2015/01/19/bishop-joseph-mukasa-zuza-interred-as-apm-veep-chilima-pay-tribute/
