Catholic priest says Malawi in sombre festive affair
A Catholic priest Fr. Piergiorgio Gamba said Malawi has been gripped with a sombre economic atmosphere making it a subdued nation with no celebratory mood during Christmas and as it welcomes new year.
Fr. Gamba, a Monfort missionary, said cash-strapped Malawians had to kick off preparations for critical New Year expenses at the expense of the festivities.
“What I want to say must not be seen as criticism of Malawi or because I want to judge or even seem negative, but simply reflect on the challenges for us to start again, stresses Fr. Gamba in an interview with Agenzia Fides, the news agency of the Vatican.
He said this year’s Christmas had challenges for Malawians as a nation.
“The security situation in the country has taken a dive for the worst. Recently, a policeman was killed by armed robbers at First Merchant bank. The criminals got away with 90 000 Malawian Kwacha. Amidst the growing insecurity in the country, an official from the Embassy of the Republic of China warned that Chinese investors would relocate to neighbouring countries due to insecurity in the country. Wang Jiaxin Hudson, the Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Counsellor said this,” the priest noted.
Fr. Gamba further said: “The delayed rains in Malawi are worrying farmers especially peasant farmers who make-up 80% of the population. Similarly, the Government programme for the distribution of fertilizers has not yet materialised. Without fertilizers, there will be no harvest to feed the population.”
Among other woes Fr. Gamba spoke about include the industrial action by the judiciary and the continued lack of donor support to the Malawian budget by the international community.
Fr. Gamba reports that the Reserve Bank of Malawi has even launched a campaign that teaches people the good use of banknotes to avoid having to print new notes.
Ironically, Fr. Gamba added, “Malawi exports an entire forest of timber and imports toothpicks, exports cotton and imports clothes, exports millions of Kilograms of tobacco and imports cigarettes”.
Malawi government hope and wish for 2015 to be a productive year.
Balaka wouldn’t be what it is if it were not for Fr Mario and Fr Gamba. They deserve an award these guys. Kungoti aMalawi enanu simufuna kuuzidwa chilungamo that’s why Malawi is the poorest country on earth. Walakwitsa pati Gamba polemba zimenezi? Gamba, Mario, and all black and whiter priest of BK and Mangochi, we love you. You are our development. Please fight for a government boarding secondary school for Machinga District. Until now there isn’t any in Machinga yet MPs and Chiefs ali phwiiiiiii!
Balirani. Peter Mathanyula is enjoying himself just like his brother back in the day. Kugona a Malawi. How could you let someone force his presidency on you and inu basi sitting phwii. A Malawi munailira coz the majority of you wanted a president from the South and as such you couldn’t stand together to resist wakubayu. Za ziii. I’m a Southerner and a Lomwe too but I will not support someone just because timachokera kumodzi.
Gamba ndi mzako Mario getting rich at the expense of malawians,cheating people with stupid handouts.You get a lot of money from Italy and other european countries but the billions are ending into your pockets
A Gamba inu, why saying things like these to the outside world, do you remember that MCP wanted to kill you and it was us students who had to protect you after you printed the pastoral letter?, was there security in MCP in those days? you have the capacity and money to start some more companies, why can’t you start making tooth picks yourself, we also know that you are a chain smoker, why don’t you start making your own cigarettes? we know that you have access to billions of money from Vatican. Thank you for starting alleluia band but… Read more »
cry mother MALAWI
And to add on Fr Gamba’s remarks, Malawians are just hearing of greenbelt initiative talk but nothing tangible is gaining ground.
Why can we not say a thing and put in place mechanisms to implement it?
Am sure if there was political will ochestrated by our incumbent politicians, food insecurity could have been dealt with through the greenbelt initiative.
We have heard the talk long enough and we now need action.
Mr vice president, please start acting. Some of us do not doubt your credibility and we don’t want to start.
Future of Malawi does not look good at all in everything. So now what to do at this situation?
Was amai better in her policies?
Don’t other country sell us stuff that’s bad to our health … good Money for them
SHAAAAA! AINT SEEN NOTHING YET… PALIBE OTI ANGASOVE…. MBAVA ZOKHAZOKHA.
Koma zoophsya kwabasi.