Malawi, Tanzania churches to intervene on border row
Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) and its counterpart the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) have agreed that they should intervene and mediate in the ongoing Lake Malawi border dispute.
MCC and CCT made the agreement following a clear stalemate which has forced the two countries to approach the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) former heads of state for assistance.
In a letter MCC General Secretary Reverend Osborne Joda-Mbewe told his CCT counterpart Reverend Leonard Mtaita that the council in Malawi is deeply concerned about the stalemate that seems to be the order of the day in the ongoing dialogue between the two countries.
“The Malawi Council of Churches therefore humbly, kindly, and peacefully requests the General Secretary of the Christian Council of Tanzania to advise as to how best we can engage mediation pastoral role to ensure a peaceful end to the matter at hand.
“The Council holds that Malawi and Tanzania have been good neighbours for decades, and that their peoples have been one in Christ Jesus. The council was mindful that both governments have committed to resolve the matter peacefully, but feel disturbed about the seeming loggerhead that has started to characterise the discussions,” reads part of the letter dated November 29, 2012.
Added Joda-Mbewe: “Our worry and concern is that should the SADC ex-heads fail to resolve the matter, it may blow out of proportion and lives of innocent people in the two neighbouring countries may be brought to danger. The current development calls for churches to pray asking God to timely intervene for a peaceful solution.”
In the same letter he asked all political and other leaders in the dialogue to “maintain some level of good headedness and soberness, and discuss the issue with a view to normalise the relations since we are neighbours and worship the same one Lord Jesus Christ”.
Joda-Mbewe also asked all stakeholders at different levels exercise great restraint and caution through the dialogue process.
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