[1]The Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka and the Zambia Episcopal Conference regret to announce the death of His Eminence Medardo CARDINAL Joseph Mazombwe, the Archbishop Emeritus of Lusaka Archdiocese.
His Eminence, Cardinal Mazombwe passed away in Lusaka’s University Teaching Hospital (UTH) on Thursday, 29 August 2013 at around 17.40 hours Zambian time.
Cardinal Mazombwe was born on 24 Sep 1931 at Katete in the Eastern Province of Zambia. He was ordained a Catholic priest on 4 September 1960 and become Bishop of Chipata Diocese on 7 Feb 1971. Between 1996 and 2006, he was the Archbishop of Lusaka until his retirement in 2006.
On 30 November 2010 the then Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI created the Emeritus Archbishop of Lusaka, Medardo Joseph Mazombwe, as Zambia’s first indigenous Cardinal, at a public consistory held in St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican.
Cardinal Mazombwe has held several senior positions in the local and regional Church, such as Zambia Episcopal President (1972 – 1975; 1988 – 1990 and 1999 – 2002); and as Chairman of the regional conferences of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (A.M.E.C.E.A.) (1979 – 1986).
In the months leading to the year 2000, Cardinal Mazombwe, as Archbishop of Lusaka, was an ardent campaigner for the cancellation of Zambia’s international debt, in the Jubilee 2000 movement. Most visible among some of his numerous pastoral initiatives, is the sprawling Cathedral of the Child Jesus (Pope Square) in Lusaka.
Cardinal Mazombwe’s optimism and courage in the face of Cancer inspired many that visited him in the last twelve months. Even as he grew weak, Cardinal Mazombwe never gave up his passion for the affairs of the Church and the nation.
Other funeral details will be communicated in due course.
MHSRIP.
Fr. Paul Samasumo 29 August 2013
ZEC Spokesperson
Comments Disabled To "Zambia‘s first indigenous Cardinal Medardo Joseph Mazombwe has died"
#1 Comment By kalunga On August 30, 2013 @ 6:50 am
MHSRIEP
#2 Comment By The Bricklayer On August 30, 2013 @ 3:13 pm
I enever understood the Catholic church. They call people holy Father when the Bible clearly forbids such, they worship Mary and Peter, they worship graven images of so called saints. Why are almost all Bemba’s catholic? Apart from being a tribalist and favoring Bemba’s, Sata is a staunch Catholic and gives preferential treatment to those who are Catholic. Mwazonmbwe seamed to have been a good fella though and I will mourn him. I will also mourn Bishop John Maambo when his time comes. However, I will not mourn T.B Joshua who is a false prophet. I curseee him in the name of Jesus.
#3 Comment By We are all in Govt to eat On August 30, 2013 @ 6:59 am
Mhsrip,saw this on ZWD yesterday though!
#4 Comment By Nine Chale On August 30, 2013 @ 7:13 am
MHSRIP.
#5 Comment By Thank you On August 30, 2013 @ 7:16 am
Thank you for the job well done and pray for us your sons and daughters.
Rest in Peace.
#6 Comment By MWANSA On August 30, 2013 @ 9:27 am
Iwe how can a dead person pray for you? Do dead people speak in your beliefs?
#7 Comment By Callboy Lusaka On August 30, 2013 @ 7:36 am
MHSRIP.
#8 Comment By Raymond Bwembya On August 30, 2013 @ 7:47 am
Ambuye munatisogolele bwino mu diocese yathu ndi ziko lonse .Mupite ndimutendere wambuye.We”ll surely remember u
#9 Comment By ex-catholic On August 30, 2013 @ 8:13 am
I remember the cardinal as he was an annual visitor to my old school! Chassa secondary school . . . .He baptized and confirmed mi and plenty others at the chapel . . .He was a humble man. MHSRIP
#10 Comment By Yamba On August 30, 2013 @ 8:32 am
What about you……Are you still the sinner you have always been?
#11 Comment By Dojo Do On August 30, 2013 @ 8:16 am
RIP sir…
#12 Comment By lusaka cholera On August 30, 2013 @ 8:32 am
Sad indeed.
I remember him when as the first you group we went to camp at St. Mary’s Junior Seminary in 1981 with the likes of Gabriel Msipu, John, matandiko, Joseph (Banda),, Meckson Banda, Chaya, etc. He was very inspirational- cool and collected. He initiated projects like St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Radio Maria Zambia, Azimai Apamtondo, just to mention a few.
#13 Comment By modize On August 30, 2013 @ 8:39 am
MHSRIP.
#14 Comment By mwebanthu On August 30, 2013 @ 9:03 am
Natubalile Ba tata ba Mazombwe> He inspired a lot of people when he was a bishop of Lusaka. Personally, I had a chance to meet and discuss issues related to our faith. May his soul rest in peace. Mukaposheko Fr. Chungu nabonse abobatusha. MHSRIP
#15 Comment By Mosquito On August 30, 2013 @ 9:26 am
Rest in Eternal Peace of the Lord
#16 Comment By Child of the Sky On August 30, 2013 @ 9:27 am
Sincere condolences.
#17 Comment By Waluma Njoka On August 30, 2013 @ 9:45 am
I new about him then I saw him in person, just seeing him as he was presiding over mass some twenty years ago in Petauke. He fail ill was rushed to the hospital, treated and came back to continue with the mass. What a person! MHSRIEP – Mzimu wao uuse ndi mtendere.
#18 Comment By Chisenga On August 30, 2013 @ 10:45 am
WHY DID THE HOLY SEE CHOOSE THIS GREAT SON OF ZAMBIA TO BE CARDINAL ONLY WHEN HE WAS OLD AND FRAIL? IS THERE A CONSPIRACY THAT THE OFFICE OF CARDINAL OR PAPACY IS THE PRESERVE OF WHITES ONLY? A BLACK MAN IS CHOSEN ONLY WHEN HE IS FINISHED, OLD, WEAK AND FRAIL WITH ONLY A FEW DAYS TO HIS LIFE. AS FOR THE PAPACY, A BLACK MAN WILL NEVER BE.
RIP DEAR CARDINAL.
#19 Comment By george bush On August 30, 2013 @ 11:15 am
this warped thinking we ve pipo wu a older than him nd are still strong.it was just his time, even you can die young as you are so stop conspiracy insinuations.
MHSRIP
#20 Comment By whatyousee On August 30, 2013 @ 11:00 am
M.H.S.R.I.P
#21 Comment By case On August 30, 2013 @ 11:31 am
whats the name of the other indigenous bishop?
#22 Comment By Double Hearts On August 30, 2013 @ 12:51 pm
It is good that you celebrated your life in truth and faith to bring lost sheep to Christ Jesus. It is a turning point for all clergymen and women to work in the lime light of the moment of truth and faith. May the good Lord receive you Joseph Mazombwe and rest in peace.
Your time has come to enjoy in your father’s house just like the way you used to say “one day time will come that all of us will have to enjoy with Jesus Christ in his father’s house”.
I thank you for your life, which you choose to work for God until death.
M.Y.R.I.E.P.
#23 Comment By Mweendalubi Kapuka On August 30, 2013 @ 1:07 pm
m.h.s.r.i.p
#24 Comment By ba wiso On August 30, 2013 @ 1:21 pm
M.H.S.R.I.P
#25 Comment By Family friend On August 30, 2013 @ 2:33 pm
HE WAS SUCH A HUMBLE PERSON WHO REALLY KEPT HIS VOWS AS A PRIEST NO WONDER HE WAS CHOSEN CARDINAL. MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE, AMEN
#26 Comment By grace mukuka On August 30, 2013 @ 2:34 pm
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.
#27 Comment By Charity On August 30, 2013 @ 4:41 pm
May His Soul Rest in Peace
#28 Comment By Mrs Ngoma On August 30, 2013 @ 5:50 pm
May he soul rest in peace
#29 Comment By Fwalanga On August 30, 2013 @ 8:51 pm
My his soul rest in peace..you always be a hero to me…GOD BLESS HIE CHURCH
#30 Comment By king Dee On August 30, 2013 @ 10:29 pm
He was a humble priest,may his soul rest in peace
#31 Comment By Nick Dims On August 31, 2013 @ 8:23 am
RIP Cardinal after serving your Lord and Saviour in truth and humility. We thank God you were a gift to us all. Rest in Peace and join your ‘son’ Fr. Chungu in eternal joy.
#32 Comment By Meckias banda On August 31, 2013 @ 8:59 am
You are the father of all Catholics not only congregations you established. Am now working at radio maria Zambia one of your great and big projects in the diocese. it is your initiative. you were a great man may God reward you because this is your time to be rewarded. M.H.S.R.I.P