MPs should reject Termination of Pregancy Bill, pleads Evangelical Association of Malawi

The Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), an umbrella mother body of 122 Church denominations and Christian organisations, has called on Members of Parliament to reject the Termination of Pregnancy Bill if tabled in the next sitting of Parliament, arguing the bill promotes the culture of death.

Rev. Francis Mkandawire :strongly oppose abortion law liberalization
Rev. Francis Mkandawire : Strongly oppose abortion law liberalization

Government is set to table a Termination of Pregnancy Bill  to “reform”  the outdated abortion law so that women can access safe abortion services in public hospitals  aimed at preventing unsafe abortions.

Evangelical Association of Malawi’s position is in sharp contrast to the recent stand taken by Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) at a 2-day consultation meeting organized by COPUA in Mangochi where through its executive committee board chairperson Reverend Alex Maulana backed the proposed law arguing it would reduce maternal deaths from women who seek backstreet abortions.

“From all the discussions, we have observed that our interests are similar to that of the state. On one hand, government and churches are saying no to abortion. On the other hand, both sides realize the need to protect and save the lives of expected women. Therefore, our support is based on the fact that the new law is not legalizing abortion, but just adding some grounds on when safe abortion should be procured,” said Maulana, who is also the General Secretary of CCAP Blantyre Synod.

However, in an exclusive interview with Nyasa Times, Evangelical Association of Malawi’s General Secretary Reverend Francis Mkandawire said the question of abortion whether safe or unsafe was an already established fact that it was murder as such MPs should take responsibility by standing up for life through rejecting the proposed law if tabled in the next sitting in November.

“It is an open secret that abortion whether safe or unsafe is literally killing,” Reverend Mkandawire said.

“ Apart from the Bible, international human rights consensus documents like Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) clearly recognize the right to life before as well as after birth, and calls for special legal protection of the child before as well as after birth.  This clearly entails that law makers have equally the legal obligation to protect the life of the unborn child through enacting laws that support life rather than those that promote the culture of death. We therefore urge our MPs to reject the abortion Bill if tabled,” added Mkandawire.

The performance of abortion, under the current laws (Penal Code Section 149-151), is generally illegal with the exception of where it can be done to save the life of the pregnant woman in extreme conditions (Section 243).

However,  grounds for pregnancy termination in the bill include rape, incest, foetus deformation and pregnancies that endanger women’s lives or may cause mental or physical health complications.

Mkandawire thinks that those added conditions are a mere scapegoat and trap in order to attract public sympathy and also to capitalize on the loopholes in order to advance abortion on demand.

“Abortion- with of course exception cases whereby a woman’s life is in real danger as already provided for by our current laws- even under the grounds where the pregnancy is as a result of rape, incest or defilement has no Biblical and human rights basis. While rape, incest or defilement are undesirable, evil and sinful acts in the eyes of God, nowhere in the Bible do we see God instructing believers to abort a life that is conceived as a result of these conditions. This does not in any way suggest that God condones these undesirable and sinful acts. But rather it signifies the fact that human life-starting from conception- is sacred before the eyes of God. Justice demands that only perpetrators pay for their crimes, not the innocent unborn child,” argued Mkandawire.

Mkandawire faulted Section 3(b) of the proposed abortion bill where it authorizes abortion “to prevent injury to physical or mental health of a pregnant woman” arguing that this was a hidden abortion on demand because poverty, shame, unplanned pregnancy, getting kicked out of school can cause mental or physical health issues.

However, the Coalition for Prevention of Unsafe Abortion chairperson Juliet Sibale argued that women’s rights to decide on their body must be respected.

“We are in a human rights era and for a longtime women’s rights have been neglected. The law has to try to bring the free environment where a woman is able to access a medical facility and is able to be informed. The bottom line is that nobody should make a decision for a woman whether or not to terminate her pregnancy” said Sibale.

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi through the Pastoral Letter titled “Mercy of God as a path of hope” issued in March 2016 faulted “foreign nations and agencies who attach aid to values and practices that are contrary to our culture”, and indicated that “such practices are not only against our culture but also contrary to our laws and beliefs.

“Through the agents of the culture of death, campaigning for abortion legislation, human life is under attack,” Catholic bishops observed in their recent pastoral letter.

The letter added: “In these circumstances, we wish to reaffirm that every person is precious, that people are more important than things; and that the measure of every society is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.”

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that over 70 000 women seek backstreet abortions each year, 31 000 of which result in complications, including death.

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Jomo Jomo Junior
Jomo Jomo Junior
7 years ago

Is Rev. Maulana a man of God or a satanist? Mukutichitisa manyazi abusa inu, the love of money is the root of evil

peterbanda@gmail.com
7 years ago

I agree with Mkandawire. Many of these people do not understand the Bible.

Slippery Terrain
Slippery Terrain
7 years ago

Many countries which have abortion laws are reviewing the laws by having laws the protect both the mother and the unborn child. The following issues should be considered. What does the law on fetal homicide say in Malawi? What will happen to a woman who abort at 8-9 months? What does the law say if you injure a pregnant woman and as a result the unborn baby dies? If the pregnant woman is killed or murdered, is there a possibility of charging the offender with double murder? Does the state have interest in protecting the unborn baby? Sometimes the law… Read more »

Chamwini Kwawo
Chamwini Kwawo
7 years ago

Maulana is an Idiot! We all know what he is.

MwanaWafunaYekhaMbolo
MwanaWafunaYekhaMbolo
7 years ago
Reply to  Chamwini Kwawo

Let those who do not want termination of pregnancy preach hard in their churches not tampering with laws of a secular state. If they are real prechers and they fear God their flock will also fear God and not terminate pregnancy but your beliefs should not be imposed on others. You say don’t terminate pregnancy but you send your kids to BLM so ‘SAFE’ abortion kuti angachititse manyazi akulu ampingo (remember that comes after tchimo lachigololo) and the poor are denied that then they die – you HYPOCRITES!!!

eam yowona
eam yowona
7 years ago

I think what is wrong is is illiteracy. Maulana and even MCC have not allowed for abortion. Rather they are against abortion including backdoor unsafe abortions. Statistics also show married women, especially thosr from churches za Mkandaeire and Chakwera havr carried out many abortions more than single eomen. Who are you people trying to fool? And international human rights does not recognise a foetus with any rights since eithin its mothers body remains the decision of thr mother up to a crrtain gastation period. Maulana and MCC and government are all against abortions. And are out to save womens rights.… Read more »

becks
becks
7 years ago
Reply to  eam yowona

EAM YOWONA you are indeed exposing your own illiteracy. Check your English “I think what is wrong is is illiteracy. Maulana and even MCC have not allowed for abortion.” The difference between you and Mauluana is the same.

kondwa
kondwa
7 years ago
Reply to  eam yowona

Perhaps not to say what is good or not good, it is one thing to agree with the human rights groups and say yes to abortion. What is not ok is for these people to push the church to make a decision which is against the conscious of the teaching of the church. Women have rights and it is understandable. But Maulana can not speak on behalf of the church and say he is in agreement with the proposed law. Immediately he does that he question his own authority reference base, the bible. He could say that as an individual… Read more »

ANALYST
ANALYST
7 years ago

Shame on Malawi Council of Churches and your members (CCAP, Anglican and a few protestants) for supporting such a bill! Its good that I am not protestant, but firmly Catholic, and my Catholic Bishops have time and again reaffirmed the Church teaching on abortion! God Help our country

Enka
Enka
7 years ago
Reply to  ANALYST

Let those who do not want termination of pregnancy preach hard in their churches not tampering with laws of a secular state. If they are real prechers and they fear God their flock will also fear God and not terminate pregnancy but your beliefs should not be imposed on others. You say don’t terminate pregnancy but you send your kids to BLM so ‘SAFE’ abortion kuti angachititse manyazi akulu ampingo (remember that comes after tchimo lachigololo) and the poor are denied that then they die – you HYPOCRITES!!! And you think being a member of zoipa chitani will help you

tman
7 years ago

If you mean life,thats the only way to save lives on earth.Mr Evangelical Association of Malawi,if you had an experience of working in hospitals you could appreciate how dangerous illegal abortions are.By the way you are men of god by colour after working with you.If there is an organisation that abuses workers its yours.Almost all your appointments and positions are northerners.STOP IT.MPS pass the bill

Binnwell Kachikopa
7 years ago

Indeed Maulana is a shameful individual, Malawi is dominantly a christian country and follows christian values but this Maulana person affiliates himself to government always and these stupid inhuman NGOs like CEDEP because he is after money. His credetials are questionable, i believe he serves his own god not the real living GOD. He will definately face the true concequences

MwanaWafunaYekhaMbolo
MwanaWafunaYekhaMbolo
7 years ago

Let those who do not want termination of pregnancy preach hard in their churches not tampering with laws of a secular state. If they are real prechers and they fear God their flock will also fear God and not terminate pregnancy but your beliefs should not be imposed on others. You say don’t terminate pregnancy but you send your kids to BLM so ‘SAFE’ abortion kuti angachititse manyazi akulu ampingo (remember that comes after tchimo lachigololo) and the poor are denied that then they die – you HYPOCRITES!!!

becks
becks
7 years ago

Kodi a Blantyre Synod, where did you get this so called levelendi Maulana? Are you not ashamed having him as a leader of the Synod? Every time he talks, he exposed more of how unchristian he is. Tell me. You mean all he says, he speaks on behalf of the Synod? A big shame.

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