The local assembly of bishops is the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (Episcopal Conference of Malawi, ECM), established in 1966. Constituent bodies of the ECM are: the plenary assembly of bishops, the Catholic Secretariat and six committees (Catholic development, justice and peace, education, health, pastoral care and communications). The ECM is a member of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
List of Presidents of the Bishops' Conference:
1966–1967: John Baptist Hubert Theunissen, Archbishop of Blantyre
1969–1980: James Chiona, Archbishop of Blantyre
1980–1984: Felix Eugenio Mkhori, Bishop of Chikwawa
1984–1994: James Chiona, Archbishop of Blantyre
1994–2000: Felix Eugenio Mkhori, Bishop of Chikwawa
2000–present: Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye, Bishop of Lilongwe and Archbishop of Blantyre