Synod bars Women Guild’s trip to State House
The CCAP Synod of Livingstonia last week barred up to 120 members of the Women’s Guild from Milala Presbytery and some CCAP Reverends in Mzimba district from travelling to the new State House in Lilongwe, Nyasa Times has learnt.
Consequently the two Buses, which government hired, returned to Lilongwe empty despite impassioned pleas from Mzimba Solola MP Akim Mwanza and DPP second vice President Goodall Gondwe.
The Synod’s Moderator Reverend Clifford Baloyi, who is perceived as a DPP stooge and another unnamed Reverend, went to so called ‘consultation’ meeting on currency devaluation.
“The other reverend was in Lilongwe preparing for his forthcoming trip to Japan and somebody lied to him that we (Synod) had consented to the trip, that’s why he went. We understood the situation he was in and we have already forgiven him,” Synod’s General Secretary Reverend Levi Nyondo said.
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika met religious leaders from the north and central regions last week Thursday.
Nyondo confirmed the development in an interview with Nyasa Times on Monday saying the Synod did not receive official communication from government on the trip.
He said all members in the synod should follow protocol by ensuring that they get official permission from the Synod’s secretariat.
“We told them that if they want to go without our permission then it means they belong to another Synod and not Livingstonia. And nobody went,” he said.
During the meeting with religious leaders, President Mutharika maintained that eh will not allow devaluation of Malawi Kwacha as advised by International Monetray Fund (IMF).
“We demand that the IMF should also listen to us, they should consult us on our problems first and only come in to advise better if we fall short – not pushing policies on us,” he said.
Mutharika said Malawi need independence in both political and economic front.
“Why did we get independence? We decided we want independence. Our first leader, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda also refused to devalue the Kwacha because he wanted to save his country. Those who say we have poor governance are not correct because this country is being envied in its governance style,” he said.
Muthairka also prejudiced the case of his former attorney general and human rights lawyer Ralph Kasambara, accusing him of being guilty of a crime for torturing people, saying his case is not political.
“ He was arrested for a crime and not politics. Mr. Kasambara is not a political activist and right now he is accused of a crime under our Penal Code,” said Mutharika.
He however said if the court finds Kasambara guilty,” he will be punished accordingly and if found not guilty he will be released.”
Special Adviser to the president on religious affairs Rev. Billy Gama, urged them to spread the news about their unique experience dining with the Head of State and that Mutharika was in was in robust health.
“Tell them for the first time you have stepped here and had a chance to dine with the president. Most of you have not even stepped near the first outer gates of this place,” he said.
President Mutharika’s government and the Synod have strained relationship.
Two years ago, the DPP government arrested Nyondo for sedition after he accused the government for killing former Minister of Health Moses Chirambo.
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