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.

Bishop Martin Mtumbuka: The clergy will always proclaim the truth without fear

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.

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Shona
3 years ago

Livingstonia synod is busy develoing central region.How can the north grow.Iven investors invest where there are development s and hard workers.Many northeners are too pompus admiring themselves while other regions are buy working with their own hands.

Atuganire
Atuganire
3 years ago

Northerners go home and develop your region. Quit this land grabbing illegally in other regions. Rise and Shine in the northern region. If you hate your DEAD north, who you think will love it??? Uchindere wakufikapo..demmetiii!

wakukaya
wakukaya
3 years ago

Bishop Mtumbuka, i am your fellow northerner and i would advise you to minimize on making such comments. they are controversial and debatable. they may not be completely true. i work in the civil service and i know that government usually considers the north when allocating development

Al-Baghdad - The Caliph
Al-Baghdad - The Caliph
3 years ago

Iam not Catholic because I cant be. This Bishopu is regionalistic. Can he tell us which district in Central region has gained development since Tonsefe Government took over. The fact that people of central region are quite doesn’t mean they have development. Lately we have seen, heard and read about roads project in the north and almost none in central region. Northerners always want everything for themselves and nothing for central. When they make such claims they should show us the percentage of their contribution to national economy. That must be proportional. Tiziwalimira ndife. Some day I hope someone in… Read more »

Chilungamo
Chilungamo
3 years ago

Mwayambapo atumbuka. Sikunache uku, mukufuna mugalukile Tonse nthawi yomweyi. Chakwela anali konko pompano kutsegula ma project. Muyembekezeni kaye pilizi.Kenako timva tikufuna federal govt. as song you play with every govt? When you look at other districts what development do you see really? Kungozolowela u cry baby basi? Zisiyeni kaye za utumbuka tiyeni tipange kaye za Malawi pano.

Moqtadar al Sadir
3 years ago

How do you expect development with these greedy politicians? These are not politicians but thieves. The MPs just increased their salaries and allowances yet we don’t have enough schools. The issue of the former RBM governor and directors if true is appalling and needs to be addressed. K27 million for one person and you expect development. Tax payers money is not meant to make millionaires but is for development. The CEOs still government vehicles after five years. Public vehicles are supposed to be sold through public auction but it doesn’t happen. You expect development in Malawi. The country needs strong… Read more »

John chidongo
3 years ago

Ayamba kuyionera patali awa a Katilika ndi a CCAP. Ayamba kutokota mpompano muwaona. Mmene ayamba kuyitanana kuti mamphwandomo pali bii pali minga. Thuza latukusira pamenepo kwakhala nkuthuzuka.

gogo petulo
3 years ago
Reply to  John chidongo

kkkkkkkkk. wanseketsa iwe

Manyasa
Manyasa
3 years ago

Sometimes northeners you have to blame yourselves you speak highly that you are well educated than the rest you hold high offices and yet when you want to invest or build your retirement homes you do it in Lilongwe and Blantyre and another thing is that when one is a recruitment officer at a certain company or org you tend to employ all northeners but you fail to develop your region.Charity begins at home.For instance if some of you have noticed 80% staff at PEP stores is all northerners because of your wakwithu syndrome so instead of blaming it all… Read more »

Time Changes, be dynamic
Time Changes, be dynamic
3 years ago
Reply to  Manyasa

That’s not right. The mlakho might be the example in your explanation. This syndrome of hating Tumbukas will devour your reasoning and you will have been reduced to a mad person by the time you realise this

nafundo zalo
nafundo zalo
3 years ago

Ambilife tinavera pa media kudzera ku MEJN kuti zitukuko zikulephera cifukwa tikawavotera amangoti male ndapana cikwama. Nduna lha MP , constituency money allocation zikalandilidwa io amapangila zitukuko mmabanja mwao. pan’gono cabe tindalama tina amazatipaka ife a mmidzimu. Ma VDC kaya amati saziwa zikucitika ninji. ndipo anthu aderalo safusidwa kuti akusowa cani. kwa mfumu Bodzole ka ndi ku balaka kha macinga kaya!! zinaonetsa.ku mangoci kungochulapo pan’gono. ndipo ma bwana ena ngati bright msaka anali mmodzi ochulidwa pa nkambilano wina kuti anthu a delalo amangoona bwanawa abwera ndi anchito kale k7zayamba ka n jigo pomwe anthu eni sanafusidwe zowasowekera. ndipo ndalama zake… Read more »

Kambewa ngozo
3 years ago

Bamboo Nyondo mwakalamba
Don’t cry what have you done yourself. The North has fertile land which can be used for farming and hence reduce poverty and hunger.
Koma unfortunately most of the youth run to cities where they suffer poverty and end up in criminal activities.

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