Debate rages on Catholic Church ‘political capture’ by Chilima Movement
Social media in Malawi has been debating on Vice-President Soulos Chilima on his use of the Catholic Church for making political parables.
The debate was triggered after Chilima spoke at one Catholic Church about “changing the cock” in Malawi’s politics, which a group called MAENGA dismissed as vague while the majority read it as Chilima’s scheme to take over Malawi Congress Party (MCP) which is symbolized by the black cock.
There has been mixed views with some Catholics saying they think using the church podium for political campaign is sacrilege, an anathema and disrespect for God and politically wrong.
Bishops were at one time urged o lead the December 2017 street anti-government demonstrations which Chilima stood on the pulpit and publicly mobilized the nation to demonstrate against his own Government.
Later, Catholic Church released a Pastoral Letter that was timed and calculated to coincide with the 27th April demonstrations .
Moreover, Chilima’s campaign is led by Catholic faithfuls who pay loyalty to the bishops. Patricia Kaliati, Noel Masangwi, Louis Ngalande, Bon Kalindo and Chidanti Malunga are all Catholics. The so-called Chilima Movement is essentially a Catholic Movement.
But some critics have described the move as a political capture of the church.
One analyst argued: “A presidential candidate needs just about 1 million votes. There are 1 million Catholics. Chilima thinks every Catholic can vote for him to be the leader of the country.”
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Somehow this reminds me of what happened in Rwanda. It is always dangerous to mix the church and the state
I think churches will play a crucial role muzisankho zikubwerazi ifeso a Rastafarian community will soon issue our Livity letter……..Jah bless
Sindine wa Cathoric ayi koma kodi chomwe walakwa SKC ndi chani? alindi ufulu opanga base yake mene akufunira pano ali ku Cathoric mawa CCAP kenako Muslims kenako SDA kenako ma pente onse sivuto kodi mukumuopa chani? koma inu nkhalambazi mukuzifunabe taonani mwachisanzo PETER VICE wake MSAKA kapena CHAPONDA kapenaso GOODALL GONDWE mulangizi wake FRANCIS MPHEPO koma ine ndiri ndi zaka 28 mukuganiza kuti angandithandize kanthu anthu amenewa guyz tisapange mistake chonde tiponyepo nyamata mwina alephere yekha ndatitu chonde zikomo
ACHINYAMATA NEED TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY FORWARD…
Achinyamatatu ndi achina Mphwiyo, Lutepo, Kalonga amene anapanga umbava osati masewera, so its not about chinyamata or anything its about character. Its better to have a 70 year old osaba than a 30 year old wakuba.
One thing you need to be assured of is that catholic will never break at any point in time NEVER, till Jesus comes. Having said that, be rest assured that Chilima is nothing to TEAM CHAKWERAMIA
At this stage of Malawi politics, churches are only effective at raising awareness to the people whenever the political leaders are failing its people. Their voices assisted in bringing down the oppressive one-party Kamuzu rule. They have also been successful in mobilising people to question integrity of heads of state. The church, has not though, been good at a successful campaign to lift their leader of choice. To be able to do this the church has to be reconfigured from what it is today to a political structure. Unless this is possible, it will never be able to support and… Read more »
Nthawi anaitaya tsiku loyamba lija atatimema kuti afuna aulankhule mtundu wa Malawi, aliyese anali ndichidwi kuti kodi atiuza chiani? Koma nzakutu za ziii, nthawi imene ija aliyense anali naye chidwi koma pano miyambi lakaaaa!!!!!!!!! Ife tiziti chiani zimenezo. Ukatiuza zakuti anthuwa ndi akatangale iwe unali kuti? Mkazi kukhala naye ndi ana four kenako uzikanena kuti sakoma ndiwamatewe, ukuwuza ana ako kapena mtundu wa a Malawi? Mwaononga tsogolo la anthu ena pandale, ngati achina kalindo, kaliati, ndi onse omwe akukunamizani kuti akumenyerani nkhondo. Malawi anapenya ndipo simungatipusitsenso ayi. iswa ikaola imodzi zones timakataya limodzi sitimasankhamonso ayi.
There were many Catholics members who voted for MCP in 1994 despite the 1992 Pastoral Letter. Many Catholics know that Chilima is vying for a political seat not a spiritual one hence cannot convince all catholics to vote for him by using the church. Let the involved priests come in the open and announce that catholics should support Chilima and be ready for the embarrassment from the very catholic members. This is a secular state mind you.
Santana, statistically how many catholics voted against the pastoral letter in favour of MCP in 1994?
Akulu mumangolubwalubwatu
Your so called analyst is misguided, am not a catholic but my support for Chilima starts way back and am 100% for him.
SKC can use whatever platform he wants! Every smart politician must have a base and if SKC’s base is the church so be it! Don’t forget that it was the Pastoral letter (the Church) that brought down the “ mighty MCP” and brought about multiparty democracy
JEFREY WA JEFRAY ANATI TAKAKUMANI PA GROUND . MA BASHIP VULANI MIKHANJO YANUYO AND ITS TIME FOR POLITIKING.