Catholic Church mobilizes it’s faithful to take a stand against DPP attack

The Catholic Church  in Malawi will Tuesday  afternoon hold a special program on its Radio Maria Station to respond to a recent attack against Pope Francis.

The program which will start at 4:30 PM local time follows reports that showed a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) operative, Hophmally Makande, telling a rally on Sunday that the party will not heed calls for  President Peter Mutharika to step down in account of old age unless the pontiff  leads the way.

In an announcement circulated on social media, the influential Catholic Church is asking whether the reference is appropriate and respectful to the Pontiff who, unlike Mutharika, is not seeking a new term.

“Listen to Radio Maria Malawi today Tuesday 28 August from 4.30 PM when we will discuss what some politician said at a rally that are an insult to the Papacy and disrespectful to the Catholic faithfuls,” says the announcement.

Speaking to the crowd, Makande queried DPP spokesperson, Nicholous Duasi, a church-going  Catholic regarding the Pope’s age:

“A Dausi muli pompano, anthu akuti a Mutharika atule pansi udindo chifukwa akula, Papa ali ndi aka 10? Papa ali ndi aka 10? Papa ndi wamkulu kuposa a Mutharika ndiye ayambe ndi Papayo kutula pansi udindo wake (Mr. Dausi, ir right here, people are saying Mutharika must step down due to old age, is the Pope 10 years old? Is the Pope 10 years old? Mutharika is younger than the Pope so he will not step down unless the Pope does).”

Leonarcd Chimbanga, one of DPP’s most vibrant, young politicians  had no kind words for Makande, saying  the remarks were “ horrifying, stupid, uncalled for.”

Makande is a recent DPP new comer  from the then ruling People’s Party (PP). He made his political fortunes as a UDF operative during that party’s reign before joining the now defunct National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which was formed by another current DPP new comer, Brown Mpinganjira.