Debate rages on Catholic Church ‘political capture’ by Chilima Movement

June 26, 2018 Nyasa Times Reporter 36 Comments

Social media in Malawi has been debating on Vice-President  Soulos Chilima on his use of the Catholic Church for making political parables.

State vice president Chilima pays tribute to His Grace Archbishop Ziyaye
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.”

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Follow us in Twitter

36 replies on “Debate rages on Catholic Church ‘political capture’ by Chilima Movement”

  1. Somehow this reminds me of what happened in Rwanda. It is always dangerous to mix the church and the state

  2. I think churches will play a crucial role muzisankho zikubwerazi ifeso a Rastafarian community will soon issue our Livity letter……..Jah bless

  3. 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

      1. 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.

  4. 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

  5. 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 elevate Chilima to the throne. Chilima is just wasting time campaigning via the church. He needs to tour the entire country (from ward to ward, constituency to constituency) if he has to have ever a chance to lead the country; otherwise game yagona.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

    1. Santana, statistically how many catholics voted against the pastoral letter in favour of MCP in 1994?

      Akulu mumangolubwalubwatu

  8. Your so called analyst is misguided, am not a catholic but my support for Chilima starts way back and am 100% for him.

  9. 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

  10. JEFREY WA JEFRAY ANATI TAKAKUMANI PA GROUND . MA BASHIP VULANI MIKHANJO YANUYO AND ITS TIME FOR POLITIKING.

  11. If God almighty Father in heaven destined him to win presidency in 2019 no one will stop it.. So you can say anything bad about the Catholic faith and about Chilima but you will achieve nothing.
    You can’t fight the holy spirit

  12. Palibe nkhani apa. Muluzi used the Catholic Church to make Bingu the president of this country. The same church released the Pastoral Letter which changed the country’s political landscape, did you make noise. Malawians too much kulubwalubwa that’s why this country can not develop. Let him use the church that’s where he belongs.

    2. Bingu never campaigned on Catholic podium like Chilima is doing. He used to just come to church and pray. I was praying at Area 18 St Patricks Church at the time and Bingu never gave political speeches at any Catholic Church. He never gave stupid expressions on Catholic pulpit and the Catholic church never actively supported him.

    1. you just being jealous…like an uneducated salvage…Macron from France, Justin from Canada….they’re all young but doing wonders in their countries. People like you are destroying Malawi for your own selfish ambitions…STOP IT…FOOL

      1. And you are just a dumb fool.who told you that if you are young then it means you can make a good president.chilima has been a vice president for 4 years Koma walephela olo kumanga Ndi mpopi wamadzi omwe kwawo Ku ntcheu,he has done absolutely nothing.He is busy playing basketball and attending meaningless functions to impress dumb fools like you

        1. You’re just one blinded folded fool who does not know what is saying…wat’s wrong with playing bball, Trump plays golf…then what. You’re one of the fools trying to live life at the expense of poor Malawians with your affiliations with DDP thieves stealing from us. Tell us what APM has done in the past 4 years other than letting Chaponda steal money and walk away scot-free. What developments has madam 1st lady done where I come from…yet these are the people sitting on the throne watching poor Malawians suffer day by day.

        2. Guys lets have a civilized discussion. There is no reason kumatukwanana. Lets agree to disagree. By so doing i will respect you for your different opinion and I would expect the same from you. KOMA TIDZIWE KUTI WAPAKALIYALA SAMAIMBA BELU.SKC WAKHALA PAKILYALA FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.AYIMBA BWANJI BELU?

  14. Remember this church brought to the people such leaders as Mussolini? Wherever they get directly involved in leadership choice, the resultant leader has been catastrophic.

  16. Chilima is using the church to advance his political ambition and the Catholic church thinks it can help him win the presidency. Many people are fed up with the intrusion of the Catholic church in political matters but also Chilima’s blatant exploitation of the church. This is dangerous for our democracy – Chilima should know that he has made the biggest mistake.

    1. This simply because you haven’t traveled the world…otherwise you’ll see how bad your thinking is…what has your democracy benefited Malawi…you are the very people with little minds trying to destroy Malawi for your own selfishness…THERE’S NOBODY WHO CAN TRANSFORM MALAWI IN DPP…ALL ARE THIEVES AS WELL AS YOU’RE. ATUPELE is using MUSLIMS wht cant you talk about that…FOOLISH

  17. not every catholic is for chilima movement. otherwise the church will crack at some point in time. i understand politicis is for everyone BUT taking sides will have an effect

    1. his is why enafe ku chikatolikako tidatulukako kale. Pharisees enieni. Don’t people understand that most of the pentes were catholics? It’s true not every catholic is for mwana wa miyambiyu Chilima. This catholic movement is a complete non starter. I hear the party is going to be named Catholic Christian Party, and the address C/O Bishop Ziyaye. Zosathandiza zenizeni.

      3. If Chilima wants to win 2019 elections, should balance up his approach. Concentrating on one group will not work for him. Not all catholics are for Chilima and not all non catholics are against Chilima. Please take note

      4. Kalindo and Maluna are CCAPs. I as Katolika wa pa phata declare that majority of us are not for SKC but we belong to different parties in the country from MCP, UDF, Aford, DPP, Chisi party, etc

Comments are closed.