A renowned Catholic priest Rev. Dr. Dominic Kazingatchire has died after contracting Covid-19, Catholic Church officials say.

Father Dr. Kazingatchire died on Monday morning at Adventist hospital in Blantyre where he was admitted after testing positive to COVID-19.

Confirming the development to YFM, ECM Secretary General, Father Henry Saindi, said late Father Kazingatchire, who until his death was Director of Academic Affairs at the Catholic University of Malawi, started having symptoms of COVID-19 two weeks ago.

Father Saindi said: “On 9th January Father Kazingatchire started having symptoms related to COVID-19 and he decided to go for a COVID-19 test and the results came out positive and he was admitted to Adventist hospital for monitoring and treatment until this morning (Monday) when we lost him.”

He further said ECM and the entire catholic community will greatly miss the late Father Kazingatchire’s services describing him as a very talented, dedicated and committed priest to his duties.”

He added that during his priesthood, late Kazingatchire held different positions at diocese level and at ECM.

The body of late Father Kazingatchire has been laid to rest on Monday afternoon at Bembeke in Dedza district in adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures.