Catholic bishops, the legal fraternity, the academia, government officials were among thousands of people that bade Associate Professor Ngeyi Ruth Kangonyolo farewell at Che Chamba Village, Sub Traditional Authority Kwanjana in Thyolo district where eulogies testified her strong and undivided catholic faith, dedication and devotion to academic duties and full activism on women rights.
Sombre mood and mixture of celebration of her life marked the day as Archbishop, Desmond Tambala of the Lilongwe Archdiocese, Justice Jean Kayira, Women Layers Association (WLA) President, Chisomo Nyemba and late Kanyongolo’s daughter Ulemu all stood to say what sort of woman Ngeyi Ruth Kanyongolo was.
Archbishop George Desmond Tambala of the Lilongwe Archdiocese, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa of the Blantyre Archdiocese, Bishop Alfred Mateyu Chaima of Zomba Diocese, Bishop Msikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese, Bishop Montfort Sitima of Mangochi Diocese led the Requiem Mass in honour of the departed Kanyongolo who until her death was Catholic University of Malawi, Vice Chancellor apart from holding various positions in the Catholic Church, Zomba Diocese, legal fraternity and in the corporate world.
Archbishop Tambala thanked God for giving Malawi, Ngeyi Ruthu Kanyongolo to save in various positions, saying she was a precious gift to the academia, the church and other bodies as capabilities and abilities were exceptionally excellent to be forgotten.
“Associate Professor Kanyongolo was a dedicated servant of God who was called to serve. She was a philanthropist,” he added, acknowledging that despite her demanding official duties late Kanyongolo served numerous catholic committees with the passion to serve but with humility despise her highly demanding official duties.
Archbishop Tambala who is Chancellor of the Catholic University of Malawi also described the deceased as dedicated Vice Chancellor who was ready to take the university to greater height out of her long experience in the academic institution.
Kanyongolo who died at 58, retired from the University of Malawi in 2023 after working for 23 years.
She obtained Master Degree and PhD in law in the course of serving as lecturer and University of Malawis Faculty of Law.
Justice Jean Kayira who represented, Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda said Kanyongolo served as scholar and legal practitioner with dedication.
She added that the deceased contributed a lot to the legal fraternity, saying she taught at the University of Malawi for a long time to mentor men and women who became reputable legal practitioners in the public and private legal firms.
Women Lawyers Association (WLA) President Chisomo Nyemba said Kanyongolo started the WLA in 1994 as a legal group that represented women in various legal cases on pro bono basis.
She added that WLA will miss Kanyongolo for playing an active role whenever she was consulted to offer advice on legal matters.
Taking her turn, Kanyongolos daughter, Ulemu said she will remember her mother for raising her well, giving her best education, adding that she will live to adore her mothers life of putting God first in all her engagements.
Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wilima, Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, former Attorney General, Dr. Chikosa Silungwe, Deputy Chief Justice, Lovemore Chikopa were some of the notable figures that attended the funeral.
Associate Professor Kanyongolo is survived by her husband, a renowned scholar and legal; practitioner, Fidelis Edge Kanyongolo and a daughter.
Episcopal Conference of Malawi appointed Ngeyi Ruth Kanyongolo as Vice Chancellor of Catholic University of Malawi with effect from March 5, 2024.
She died on October 28, at Mwayi wathu Private Hospital in Blantyre after a short illness and received a lot of condolences from academia, the church and the corporate world where she served in various top positions.
Kanyongolo was accorded special prayers at Sacred Heart, Zomba Cathedral, at her residence, Mulunguzi in Zomba, St Charles Lwanga Parish, Catholic University of Malawi and the last mass at her home village, Che Chamba Village in Thyolo.
