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Sentenced Catholic Priest for Murder of Malawian Man Living with Albinism Has Died

Late Fr. Thomas Muhosha. Credit: Nyasa Times

The Malawian Catholic Priest who was serving his 30-year prison sentence for the murder of a 22-year-old man living with albinism is dead. 

Fr. Thomas Muhosha of Zomba Diocese died on Tuesday, July 19 while receiving treatment at Zomba Central Hospital, the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) announced in a statement obtained by ACI Africa. 

"The Catholic Church deeply regrets his death," Fr. Henry Saindi says in the July 19 statement, in which he notes that by the tie of his death, Fr. Muhosha "was not in full communion with the Church."

The late Fr. Muhosha was suspended from Priesthood in April 2018 when he was arrested for his involvement in the killing of Mr. Mcdonald Masambuka. 

In a statement dated 17 April 2018, the then Bishop of Zomba Diocese, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala said, “The Catholic Diocese of Zomba has learnt with profound shock and shame the allegations against Reverend Father Thomas Muhosha, a Priest of our Diocese linking him to the killing of albino, Mc Donald Masambuka.”

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Archbishop Tambala who was transferred to the Archdiocese of Lilongwe in October 2021, and installed the following month had further stated, “The Diocese, like the rest of the Catholic Church in Malawi, has always strongly condemned the killing of our brothers and sisters with albinism.”

“In recent times, as a Diocese we have spoken out against the abduction and killing of persons with albinism. It is with much sadness that we have learned of these allegations against a priest of our Diocese,” said the member of the Order of Discalced Carmelites.

He continued, “The Catholic Church defends the sanctity of life at any point of a person's life and the killing of albinos is a direct violation of the sanctity of life.”

As the Local Ordinary of Zomba Diocese, Archbishop Tambala announced the suspension of the Malawian Catholic Priest from his Priestly ministry saying, “Laws of the Catholic Church are clear and in the case of Reverend Father Thomas Muhosha, he is henceforth suspended from Priesthood awaiting conclusion of the case.”

He added that once the case against Fr. Muhosha is concluded, “due Church processes will follow according to the prescriptions of Canon Law."

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On April 28, Fr. Thomas Muhosha and 11 others were found guilty of plotting to kill Mr. Masambuka in order “to extract his bones, hoping to benefit financially”, the Judge at the High Court in Blantyre, Dorothy Nyakaunda Kamanga, said during the ruling.

"Eternal rest grant unto Rev. Dr. Thomas Muhosha, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace!" the ECM Secretary General says in the July 19 statement announcing the Priest's demise. 

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.