MALAWI’s 6^TH PRESIDENT

PROFILE OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT DR. LAZARUS MACARTHY CHAKWERA

Lazarus Macarthy Chakwera, BA, B.Th. (Hons), MTh., D.Min. was born in Lilongwe on April 5, 1955. He is married to Monica and together they have four grown up children, married and raising their own children.

While Dr Lazarus Macarthy Chakwera comes from Malembo Village in the Traditional Authority (TA) Khongoni in Lilongwe District, his wife Monica comes from Jeka Village, TA Chikulamayembe, in Rumphi District – a family uninhibited by tribe or region; (one spouse from the central region of Malawi, and the other from the northern region of Malawi).

Dr Lazarus Chakwera obtained a BA from the University of Malawi, Zomba, in 1977, a B.Th. (Hons) from the University of the North, Sovenga, South Africa in 1981; a Masters’ degree in Theology from the University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa in 1991; and Doctorate in Min Trinity International University, Deerfield, and IL.USA in 2000.

Dr Lazarus Chakwera has wide experience, at the highest levels, from a variety of institutions. In 1981, he served as an Assistant Lecturer for Biblical Studies at the University of the North in the Republic of South Africa. From 1983 to 2000 he held the position of an Instructor at the Assemblies of God School of Theology in Malawi where from 1996 to 2000 he was elevated to Principal.

From 2002 to 2013 he was Co-Director of the All Nations Theological Seminary, Malawi; and doubled as a Lecturer. From 2005 to the time he went into politics he was also serving as a Professor at the Pan Africa Theological Seminary. He has authored several publications some of which are:

• Reach the Nations, ATTS, 2001
• Islam and Animism: A Christian Perspective. Graduate Study Guide, GU, 2005
• Advanced Studies in Biblical Theology of Missions, Doctoral Study Guide, PATHS, 2006

Other than the presidency of the Malawi Assemblies of God from 1989 to 2013,

He has also served nationally and globally as below:

• Founding Senior Pastor, International Christian Assembly (ICA), 1996-2013
• Chairman, Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), 1997-2013
• Founding President, Eleventh Hour Institute (EHI), 1999-2013
• President, Africa Assemblies of God Alliance (AAGA), 2004 – 2013
• President, Southern Africa Assemblies of God Alliance (SAAGA), 2002 – 2013
• Board Chairman, Pan Africa Theological Seminary (PATHS), 2004 – 2013
• Board Member, Global University, Springfield, Missouri, USA, 1999 – 2005
• Board Chairman, All Nations Theological Seminary, 2008-2013
• Executive Member, World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF), 2005 – 2013
• Member, World Assemblies of God Relief Agency (WAGRA), 2005 – 2013
• Member, Public Universities Working Committee of Malawi, 2011- 2013
• Secretary, World Assemblies of God Fellowship (WAGF), 2011- 2013
• Chairman, Association for Pentecostal Theological Education in Africa (APTEA), 2011- 2013

His experience and service has not been limited to the ecumenical posts. He is very conversant with the workings of the government having chaired the Petroleum Control Commission (PCC) from 2005 to 2007. Until his joining politics in 2013, he was chairing the Malawi National Council of Sports from 2007.

Dr Chakwera has also made contributions to the development of the media in Malawi as a trustee of the Media Council of Malawi from 2007. On the tertiary education front, on top of long hands-on experience as a Lecturer, he served as a member of the Public Universities Working Committee of Malawi from 2011.