Bishop Mtumbuka bemoans abject poverty in Malawi,  says North denied development: ‘Naked politically’

Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of the Catholic diocese of Karonga  on Sunday  said although the northern region has produced political giants, the region has been denied  development.

Mtumbuka made the remarks at St Andrews CCAP Church of Livingstone Synod in Mzuzu on Sunday during the farewell ceremony of the Synod’s former Secretary General Rev. Levie Nyondo.

His Grace Mtumbuka said the northern region has failed to replace the political stewalts and that the current political crop is not inspiring.

“Kumpoto kwasono tiliwaka nkhuli pandale. Tilije wandale wakulimba mtima nakuyimilira winampoto nge umokale vikawira [northern region as of now is naked politically. The region has no strong representative in politics because all the politicians we have are unstable and unreliable]. We need to have a strong representative,” said Mtumbuka.

Mtumbuka told the gathering that without a strong political representative, the region’s voice will not go far to attain meaningful development.

He said it is not the clergy’s duty to criticise government but that they will also proclaim the truth  especially when the governing elites fail to perform their duties accordingly.

“Our main responsibility is to preach the word of God, but when you fail us, we intervene and speak out,” said Mtumbuka,  who chairperson for Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), an arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) .

Mtumbuka further bemoaned abject poverty in the country and challenged Malawians to start demanding answers from duty-bearers on a wide range of socio-economic ills affecting the country.

“Some learners walk 70 kilometres a day in Iponga, Karonga to access education,” he said.

He also expressed concern with killings of the elderly, mostly women, on witchcraft allegations.

The event  was attended by former president Joyce Banda, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Hara, leader of opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa, Aford president Enock Chihana and government officials.

Rev. Nyondo retired last month.