Malawi govt attacks CCAP Nkhoma Synod’s pastoral letter
Malawi government has given a secular response to Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) on its pastoral letter giving guidance to the flock to vote on May 21 a leader that will respect the Constitution, has no record of corruption, will unify Malawians and will not protect thieves, mafias and looters of public resources.
In a statement issues on Wednesday and signed by Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Henry Musa, made available to Nyasa Times, the government hits at Nkhoma Synod that its attempt to insert further itself into politics is wrong and potentially dangerous.
But the Synod’s spiritual father Reverend Bizwick Nkhoma said its pastoral letter was directed at its membership not for argument with government.
Mussa, who is government spokesperson, said the State feels it has an obligation to comment on the pastoral letter where, in expressing its opinion, the church has “misplaced facts, abdicated from shared responsibility and created erroneous impressions.”
He said while the church is free in guiding its flock, the guidance should be “embracing not alienating”.
Reads in part the government statement: “Malawi is a multi-faith society. A member of any faith grouping is free to participate in an election and seek office. The church, therefore, should not suggest in its pastoral pronouncements that some people, because of their faith, are more equal and entitled than others.”
Vote of no confidence in Mutharika
Government has also rebutted synod’s assertions on the fact that six of incumbent President Peter Mutharika’s challengers include two of his Cabinet members, notably estranged Vice-President Saulos Chilima (UTM) and Minister of Health Atupele Muluzi (UDF) is a vote of no confidence in him, especially considering that the duo is accusing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration of rampant corruption.
Further, Nkhoma Synod notes that it is ironical that Chilima—a former corporate executive who rose to the post of Airtel Malawi managing director before Mutharika roped him into active politics in February 2014 to be his running mate—and Muluzi feel they can each rule Malawi better despite being part of the government they criticise. The letter points out that the Cabinet members were using State resources for their campaign.
Mussa said the synod is “mistaken” to make that assertion.
“A church should be a fountain and safeguard of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. As such, instead of misconstruing the veracity of the situation, the synod should be commending the President for being exceptionally tolerant and democratic in being able to work and accommodate his competitors. This is good and unprecedented,” reads the statement.
No higher moral ground
Government has also hit back at the church for condemning it of corruption, saying the Synod has no moral higher ground because it was involved in the misappropriation of donor funds meant for water, sanitation and hygiene project five years ago.
It reads in part: “Corruption is a serious problem which continues to gnaw at the fabric of our society. Nkhoma Synod should be the first to acknowledge the seriousness of this problem as it has not spared even places where the nation should be turning to for deliverance.
“The synod will recall that in 2014, the United States Agency for International Development (USaid) demanded that the church should refund money amounting to K61, 886 389.11 siphoned through fraud that hit a water, sanitation and hygiene project USaid financed and which the synod was implementing.
“Actually, the Nkhoma synod general secretary (at the time) Reverend Vasco Kachipapa was quoted in the Weekend Nation edition of June 15, 2014 as saying, ‘the church is in shame.’ This is just one example of the extent of corruption and justifies the call by Government on those who love to criticise to stop finger pointing, to refrain from holier than thou behaviour and join hands in order that together we can form a concerted and robust effort of fighting the vice.”
Njauju murder puzzle
The Synod also raised concerns of defeat to justice for killers of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) corporate affairs director Issa Njauju, believed to be regime thugs in the corridors of power.
Njauju was killed on July 4 2015 and his body was found half-buried behind the presidential villas in Lilongwe while his official vehicle was burnt to ashes at Mtsiriza, a peri-urban township west of Area 47 in the capital city.
Following the murder, several donor countries, including the UK, immediately condemned what was deemed a politically motivated killing and rallied behind embattled staff at the ACB.
Motives of the murder remain unknown just as the identities of those behind the heinous crime.
Government has over the years come under intense public pressure to bring to justice those responsible.
In the statement, Mussa said the matter is still under investigation.
“Government needs all the assistance including information to have this matter concluded. The synod is welcome to assist in this important investigation,” said Mussa.
Echoing Catholics call for new era
The Nkhoma letter has come after Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Catholic Diocese challenged the electorate to free themselves from “this slavery and dehumanising poverty” by voting for leaders who can change the country’s direction.
During a Chrism Mass at St Joseph the Worker Cathedral in Karonga, the bishop urged Malawians not to vote for corrupt leaders in the elections.
In April 2018, Catholic bishops in the country, under the umbrella of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), said Malawi needed a change of direction, lamenting that the hard-won democracy was not yielding the fruits people anticipated.
The pastoral letter observed that 54 years after independence, Malawians were still wallowing in poverty as the few “exercise power band enjoy wealth at the expense of the majority”.
In their 16-page Pastoral Letter titled ‘A Call for a New Era in Malawi’, the bishops said: “We are of the opinion that Malawi, as a nation, needs a change of direction if we are to reverse the situation.”
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Nanga ma BISHOP akatulutsa yawo mutani???
As usual, truth hurts.
As for Mr. Busuta Banda, all I can say ” Keep supporting DPP/APM and all they stand for, viz, thieving and blatant abuse of public resources. Are you aware of the attempted inflating of ESCOM demolition contract or the Military Hospital project? Pure daylight robbery “
Ku Malawi we know that once government starts to stand tall against the church. zao Zada. Watch the space after 19 days.
apapa a synod nkuzaponya chipewa wina anvekele ndi size yanga iyooo mwayitha bambo. coool down 21 may sinafike munyamuka mukafika
Mussa ungenaphi?
UMENEWO NDIYE UBULUTUWO CHIFUKWA ADAKAYENERA KUYIWERENGA KALATAYO BWINOBWINO ASANAPANGE REACT KUYANKHAKONSO NDIYE KUWONONGANSO ZINTHU
Nkhoma Synod is funny. They are saying “vote for a leader who will not protect thieves”, yet the MCP which they are apparently supporting is protecting chief cashgater and jetgater JB. The pastoral letter has conveniently avoided talking about cash gate and jet gate, because the culprits, JB and her PP, are supporting the Synod’s preferred candidate, Chakwera. Shame on the Synod.
Let me tell you Nkhoma Synod DPP will win this coming election because it will emerge top in 10 out of 12 districts in southern region (only in Chikwawa and Machinga will DPP not emerge top). Add to it a million votes from central and northern region he will be in range of 2.5 – 3 million votes. That’s almost half of the votes and the other half shared by the other 3 main contenders and your guess is as good as mine.
Apa ndiye paja timanena mwambi wakuti “kukomera mbuzi kugunda galu, koma galu akaluma mbuzi, NDIWACHIWEWE” Pomwe mabungwe a zaChisilamu akukopa wanthukuti avotere DPP, mumakhala ngati mwagontha nkutu simukuzinva….Pano a CCAP NKHOMA Synod angoyankhula zowauza anthu kuti avote mosamala, mwayambapo zudandaula….
I am a Presbyterian from birth. Our generation have been Presbyterians ever since and I belong to Nkhoma Synod. Rev. Vasco Kachipapa and a small number of his group are just favourites of MCP Chakwera in particular. He did not consult many of us on this Pastoral letter. These are views of a few disgruntled members of our church. We don’t support this mediocrity. All in all we were already divided when this disgruntled group organized this letter and we tried to stop them from proceeding with this nonsense but these are people who are satanic but hide under the church. They even noticed the way congregants were murmuring when the letter was being led in church. We have many issues to sort within the church but Kachipapa is running away from solving our own problems instead he goes to attack the innocent Mutharika. I want to assure you Malawians that don’t listen and get worried with this nonsense let us support the government of Mutharika which is full of development.
Many of us! Including you? Kikkkkkk!
Innocent Mutharika? You must be one of those gullible christians KKKK 145 Million proceeds from crime activities! Engil Mota….Now shady Military hospital contracts! What do you think the ESCOM blackouts comes from? State Capture dear… funding parties instead of reinvesting in new station new dams! Wake up
Akudziwa ndi mulungu.
But why is the govt bothered, CCAP is telling its flock. If a preacher is telling that thefty is wrong. Any thief should abstain from listening but not start accusing the Church.
Hahahahaaa was the Pastoral letter addressed to the Dpp blue camp?? why are they responding? the letter was meant for the church congregants, koma dpp ayi phuma kunoooo for the Y?? The guilty are always afraid.
Nkhoma CCAP Synod did not match to government to present their letter rather they were addressing its congregation why should government respond its none of their business.
How shall the synod measure that this leader is filled with the Holy Spirit?
You shall know them by their fruits…………..simple!
Being a former reverend is not equal to be filled.
And no reverend has been mentioned in this letter
Digital scale. 2019 model.
Men of God are always guided by God, hence the Almighty Himself communicates with them on the same! Believe ngakhale simunaone or kumva zimenezi zikuchitika! If you have genuine faith you can’t underrate that?
You may not know it. You need spiritual wisdom.
Koma siiwe oyamba. Some people did not believe that the Massis is with them
men of God of today,not called by God but rather employed, their will end up in politics.end times!
Whenever there is fack ones. Know that there is anyone domewhere
Why are you so fast to comment on the Pastoral letter, Buleya Lure was tortured, ironed and killed in police custody what do you tell us? Mwakalamba a Mussa kapumeni pamodzi gogo Mutharika. Njauju anamupha ndani?
My advice to Nkhoma Synod is simple: Direct your Reverends to continue reading the pastoral letter to the congregants every Sunday till the 21st May [election day]!! During such follow-up readings, direct them NEVER to hesitate to tell congregants NEVER to vote for APM and his MPs because they are thieves and worse still have shown to be not repentant. Is DPP through Musa insinuating that they can’t stop the thieving because some Nkhoma pastors were also found doing similar acts? Furthermore, in consideration that you’re aware that Chilima and Atupele are using public resources for their campaign, do you have anything to tell us as regards what Government is doing to stop the vices? Who can stop Chilima and Atupele? Is it Nkhoma Synod? Zitsiru, mulibe ndi manyazi omweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Nawenso dzulo unaphwisa, ndiye lero usandinene. If Joyce Banda was indeed the master mind of cash Gate, then where is all the pomp we used to hear from government of her arrest when she jets into the country? How long has she been here, since her arrival? You can only cheat children, unless you think Malawians are kids. We will act on what we see and hear. 19 days to polling, …
Am seeing this story from this point of view that,
here is a visitor who comes to your house and tells you that your floor is dusty, plates are dirty, the windows are broken and you need to do something about it. You attack the visitor instead of putting your house in order.
Paja akuti chipani china chikulembanso pastoral letter yawo chifuna chikapereke ku mpingo wina wake. Zayang’ana ku dazibond. Men in collar now licking the sweet from satan. Nawo a Chakwera pokwera Joyce amumva sweet za ndege akuti si nkhaninso. Za cashgate, zoombera Mphwiyo akuti ayi lero JB wachoka pa jezebel nkufika pa virgo.
Mr Kuda, kuda ndi mtima womwe,magazi, bongo, makhadabo, matekenya, chilichonse chakuda kikkkkkk!
iwowo akuzinyumwa okha bwanji adpp kusonyeza kuti zinthuzo amapanga , olo angaziyeretse chotani zawo zinada basi aliyense akuziwa kuti dpp ndi yakuba, kupha, tribalistic even mwana amene akuziwa