MALAWI: Catholic Church Dismisses Rumors About Archbishop Thomas Msusa’s Whereabouts

By Smile Hamilton, Malawi 

The Catholic Church in Malawi has dismissed rumors circulating on social media that Archbishop Thomas Msusa has been arrested or is in hiding.

These rumors started after Archbishop Msusa delivered a sermon on December 24, 2024, commenting on the recent plane crash that killed the country’s Vice President, Saulos Chilima, and three others.

According to the Vicar General of the Catholic Church, Fr. Monsignor Bonface Tamani, Archbishop Msusa is currently in the Netherlands, where he is receiving medical treatment for a long-standing condition.

The church officials have denied allegations that Archbishop Msusa is in hiding or has been arrested, calling the rumors “baseless” and “misleading.”

Archbishop Msusa’s sermon sparked controversy after he commented on the plane crash, calling for transparency and accountability in the investigation.

His comments were seen as critical of the government’s handling of the incident.

The Catholic Church has stood by Archbishop Msusa, saying that his comments were made in good faith and were not intended to be inflammatory.

The church has also called for calm and restraint, urging Malawians to wait for the outcome of the investigation into the plane crash.

Meanwhile, some faith leaders have criticised Archbishop Msusa’s comments, while others have come out in support of him .

The incident has highlighted the role of religious leaders in speaking out on national issues and the importance of accountability and transparency in governance.