Kalambo, Esther (1956-2010)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2010 Mar 15 p. 3

Birth date: 1956

text of obituary:

Car crash claims life of Zambian church leader

By Mennonite World Conference staff

CHOMA, Zambia — Esther Kalambo, a leader among the African Anabaptist Women Theologians, died in a car crash Jan 21. She was 54.

Kalambo was a chaplain at the Brethren in Christ Hospital in Macha.

Also killed in the accident were Douglas Haadinke, a Macha employee; Edith Mwiinga, a former employee; and Doris Mudenda, Kalambo's older sister.

Kalambo was a member of the continental committee of African Anabaptist Women Theologians since its creation in 2002. She attended the MWC assemblies in 2003 in Zimbabwe and 2009 in Paraguay and had close connections to Mennonites in many parts of the world.

Kalambo was one of the women featured in a documentary, Living Water, Living Faith: Mennonite Women of Color, produced by Pat McFarlane and Linda Christophel.

In the video, she reflected on the transitory nature of life experienced by the patients with whom she worked; "Everyone is journeying toward death, some more quickly than others. I am here now, but I know that I am on a journey. I am not here forever. All of us are passing by."

Kalambo was trained as a peacebuilder. At the time of her death she had just returned from an assignment of training 11 BIC pastors and leaders in peacebuilding. She was scheduled to teach a course in peacebuilding to Sikalongo Bible Institute third-year students.

Known for her hospitality, Kalambo provided graciously for anyone at any hour.

She is survived by her husband, Mukuwa; sons Chilobe and Michelo, and daughters Mutinta and Sibajene.