Late Malawian-born Jesuit Who Ministered in Zambia Eulogized as “beacon of hope; devoted advocate for justice, dignity”

The life of Fr. Muyebe, they say, “embodied the Jesuit mission to serve with compassion and solidarity, reflecting our commitment to justice and the transformation of communities.”

“Fr. Muyebe’s passing is a significant loss to the Society of Jesus, the JCTR, and the countless lives he touched through his ministry,” the Jesuits in Southern Africa say.

They find solace in the fact that their confrere has left behind “a powerful legacy of service, marked by an enduring commitment to justice and a compassionate heart. His work and memory will continue to inspire all who strive for a more just and peaceful world.”

In their statement, Jesuits in Southern Africa extend their “deepest condolences to Fr. Muyebe’s family, friends, and colleagues at the JCTR.”

“We are grateful for his life, his ministry, and his enduring legacy. May God grant him eternal rest, and may his spirit continue to guide us in our mission,” they implore.

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Born in July 1968 in Malawi’s Catholic Archdiocese of Blantyre, Fr. Muyebe was ordained a Jesuit Priest in July 2003.

He served as the pioneer Director of the Malawi-based Jesuit Centre for Ecology and Development (JCED).

In a message issued on November 8, JCTR members describe Fr. Muyebe as “a devoted advocate for justice and dignity in Zambia.”

“Over the past four years, Fr. Muyebe led JCTR with compassion, championing the rights of the marginalized and working tirelessly for a more just society,” they say.

JCTR members add, “Please join us in honouring his legacy and celebrating a life that inspired so many. His spirit of service and faith will continue to guide our mission.”

In another statement, members of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) announce that his “burial ceremony will start with the Requiem Mass on 12 November 2024 at 10:00 am at St. Ignatius Parish in Lusaka.”

“Eternal rest grant unto Rev. Fr. Alexander Muyebe O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace,” ECM members implore.

At the helm of JCTR, Fr. Muyebe has been vocal about the socio-economic and political challenges the people of God in Zambia grapple with, including the high cost of living, debt crisis, and health among other challenges.

Earlier this year, Fr. Muyebe said that taking strategies to empower the rural populations in view of stemming rural-urban migration can help address the recurring challenge of cholera in Zambia.

He emphasized the need for change of behaviour in the management of solid waste, especially in Zambia’s capital city, where he said hygiene practices have to be fostered if cholera is to be prevented.

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In a statement he issued in March 2023, the late Fr. Muyebe warned that the high cost of living in Zambia was likely to push low-income citizens “into abject poverty”.

Fr. Muyebe, who attributed the high cost of living to delays in the country’s debt restructuring process, and climate change, among other factors said families had been forced to reduce their daily meals and compromised the meals’ “nutritional content”.

The late Jesuit Priest spearheaded calls for Zambia “to seriously consider” adopting the “preferential option for the poor”, one of the principles of the Catholic Social Teaching in which the well-being of the vulnerable in society is prioritized.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.