Phiri, Harrison Kasalika

Harrison Kasalika Phiri, popularly known as Mandevu (“long beard”), was the influential first bishop of the African Abraham International Church in Kasungu, serving from 1982 until his death in 2006. He was born on January 20, 1918, into the Presbyterian family of Harrison Njanje and Jelita Mwamba Njanje, subsistence farmers at Sanza village in the area of Traditional Authority Malenga in Ntchisi District. The couple had five children, three boys and two girls. [1] Harrison did not go far with education, only reaching Standard 2 at Mpherere Primary School, but he was able to read and write. After leaving school he became a well-known commercial farmer. In 1938, he married Victoria Mwale who was also from Ntchisi and they had seven children, five boys and two girls. They belonged to the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian.

In 1948, Harrison married another woman named Malitina Dzonzi, who bore him five children, so he had twelve children from his two wives. When he married a second wife, he was excommunicated from the CCAP because it does not allow polygamy. After being excommunicated he joined the Last Church of God. No sooner had Harrison joined the Last Church, than he was chosen and ordained as a bishop. This was the beginning of his missionary service. [2] In 1958, he decided to move to Kasungu District, following his elder brother who had settled there. After discussion and agreement with his wives, they all set off but did not reach Kasungu that year. Instead, they stopped and settled at Bweya village in Dowa District for three years. He opened a Last Church of God branch at Bweya which later became a mission station. In 1961 they continued their journey to Kasungu as planned. Chief Njombwa gave them a place to settle.

This was the beginning of Mchoka village, which was almost three kilometres from where his brother Nguluwe settled. He founded the Last Church of God at Mchoka but in response to a request from Chief Njombwa, representing the majority view in the community, the church was moved to Njombwa Village, Mziza headquarters. Many people joined the church as a result of Harrison’s leadership. [3] There were internal conflicts in the church over the leadership portfolios which came to a head in 1981. It reached the point where rival leaders were challenging one another. This did not please Harrison, so he decided to exclude himself from the congregation regardless of being its founder. At this juncture, Harrison went to Mitundu in Lilongwe to meet Bishop Ngwendele Gondwe of African Abraham International Church and asked him if he could start a branch of the Church in Kasungu. Bishop Ngwendele Gondwe accepted the idea, and they set a day to open the branch in Kasungu. African Abraham International Church bishops from all corners of Malawi came to the opening ceremony of the new branch at Mziza headquarters in Kasungu on September 25, 1982.

At the opening ceremony, Harrison was ordained as a bishop of the Church. This marked the beginning of the life of the Church in Kasungu. He managed to convince his relatives to join the church, thus Mchoka village became known as mudzi wa Afiliikani (African village) because almost everyone in the village joined African Abraham International Church. Most members of the Last Church of God congregation, which had been started by Harrison, also left their church and joined African Abraham International Church. His effectiveness as a church leader was widely admired. [4] He organised the members to construct the new church, stating in his speech: timange tchalichi la makono monga akuchitira anzathu (“let’s build a modern church just as our friends are doing”). He was in the forefront in making bricks, providing food for the builders, and completing the construction of the church. As a result of the quality of his leadership, he was promoted to the position of General Principal of the Church in both Kasungu and Dowa, so he oversaw all the bishops in these districts.

Revival meetings were held which led to the establishment of numerous substations and prayer houses. Mziza branch became the mission station and the headquarters for all sub-stations established in Kasungu, Dowa and part of Ntchisi. His favourite song was Kwathu sipandziko ndingopitirira (“this world is not my home I’m just a passing through”). He opposed the gule wamkulu (masked dance) that was a popular expression of Chewa cultural beliefs and values, as he considered the masked dancers to be mafano (idols). As a founder of Mchoka village, he always used to delegate when it came to village activities. He never took the position of village headman; instead, he allowed his brothers and nephews to lead the village. [5] He was a visionary leader and spiritual father even to non-Christian members of the community. He was a leader of great integrity who served with passion and was the champion of developments in many African Abraham International Churches in Kasungu and other districts. He was known as Mandevu because he kept a long beard. It is the name by which he is remembered, and many people do not know that it is in fact a nickname.

He planted churches and served the two denominations during his 58 years of ministerial service, making a positive impact on both churches. He is remembered as someone who changed the lives of many people who continue to cherish his memory as an inspirational leader in church and community. [6] In 2004, he became blind due to old age and was cared for by his surviving second wife and his children. He could not manage to travel long distances, but his grandchildren regularly took him to church services. It was a beautiful day on October 12, 2006, when he woke up as usual and was taken to the home of his last-born son Mackson to chat with his grandchildren. He collapsed and died as he was going to take a rest. It was later confirmed that his death was caused by high blood pressure. On October 14, 2006, he was laid to rest at Njombwa in Kasungu.

James Chapita

Notes:

1. Mackson M. Phiri, interview by author, July 12, 2024, Kasungu.
2. Ackim N. Kwenje, interview by author, August 16, 2024, Njombwa, Kasungu.
3. Masuku C. Phiri, interview by author, August 18, 2024, Njombwa, Kasungu.
4. Eliya Phiri, interview by author, August 22, 2024, Kasungu.
5. Solomon N. Chisepo, interview by author, August 30, 2024, Kasungu.
6. Solomon N. Chisepo, interview by author, August 30, 2024, Kasungu.

Bibliography

Chisepo, Solomon N. Interview by author. August 30, 2024, Kasungu. Kwenje, Ackim N. Interview by author. August 16, 2024, Njombwa, Kasungu. Phiri, Masuku C. Interview by author. August 18, 2024, Njombwa, Kasungu. Phiri, Eliya. Interview by author. August 22, 2024, Kasungu. Phiri, Mackson M. Interview by author. July 12, 2024, Kasungu.

This article, submitted in February 2025, was researched and written by James Chapita, a ministerial candidate of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Nkhoma Synod and grandson of Harrison Kasalika Phiri, under the supervision of Professor Kenneth R. Ross as one of the requirements of the Church History course on the MTh in Contextual Theology at Zomba Theological University.