By Burnett Munthali

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has appointed Reverend Father Dr. Wilfred Sumani as the acting vice chancellor of the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA). This appointment comes after the recent passing of Associate Professor Ngeyi Ruth Kanyongolo, a distinguished legal scholar who served as the university’s vice chancellor until her untimely death last week.

In a letter signed by ECM Chairperson, Most Reverend George Tambala, the ECM stated that Dr. Sumani’s appointment aims to ensure continuous leadership at CUNIMA while they undertake the process of selecting a permanent vice chancellor. The ECM highlighted the importance of steady guidance at this time, especially given the impact of Professor Kanyongolo’s contributions to the institution.

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Reverend Dr. Sumani brings substantial experience to this role, having previously served as the Director of Academic Affairs at CUNIMA in 2021. His academic and administrative expertise is expected to provide stability to the university as it transitions to new leadership.

The ECM’s decision has been met with support from the Catholic community and the academic fraternity, who see Reverend Dr. Sumani’s leadership as beneficial for CUNIMA’s continued growth and excellence.