Malawi VP Chilima says leadership is a calling:  I’m devout Catholic serving God not for votes 

State Vice –President Salus Klaus Chilima has said it un fortunate that some people castigate him for  serving the Catholic Church more  to garner political support, saying he has been a devout Catholic in his 43 –years life and only in political office for three years.

Chilima speaking at the event
Chilima (first right) lights candles: (Pic. By Kondwani Magombo (Mana).
A cross section of members of the Association of Chanco Catholic Alumni – Pic. By Kondwani Magombo
Malawi Veep Chilima and bishop Ziyaye lighting the candle at Maula Parish for launch of alumni

“Some people have been saying I am involved in church activities because I want votes. It is wrong to suggest that I attend and serve the church for votes.  I am 43 years old (born on February 12 1973) , and only three years out of those, I have been a vice president. I am more of a Catholic than a vice president. I have no apology to make. I will not stop. I am serving God,” said Chilima.

“It is a great feeling to serve the church. It is very fulfilling to serve God.”

He was speaking at the launch of Chancellor College Catholic alumni Saturday at Maula Parish in Lilongwe.

Chilima who studied at Chancellor College, a constituent college o the University of Malawi, where he obtaine a bachelor of social science majoring in economics and later a master’s degree  in economic,  said it is at church where he learnt that “leadership is not a position.”

He said: “A promotion never made anyone a leader. Leadership is a fiduciary calling.”

In his motivational speech, Chilima hailed the formation of the Association saying it would not only promote fellowship among the members but that it would also promote and strengthen the Church’s goal of winning souls to Christ.

The Vice President urged the Association members to put all their efforts in serving the Church in any other way possible and that each of the members should stay focused in their endeavor to serve the Church.

“There are three things I would like to share with you as regards serving the Church,” said Chilima, a Catholic alumnus, himself, and a member of the Association. “Humility: amongst you there are people with Bachelor’s degrees, some with Master’s degree and others with PhD’s. You need to humble yourself to work with everyone because some of the people who will lead you in the Church may not be as educated as you are.”

Chilima further urged each of the members of the Association to stay focused and belong to any one or two of the several groups of the Church and help with the skills and expertise they the individual members had.

“As it has been said often times, ‘you can do two things at once, but you can’t focus effectively on two things at once’, otherwise, you end up being jack of all trades and a master of none,”

He added that commitment and faith were also other important elements that could strengthen the newly launched Association in its pursuit to serving the Church and the people who make it.

“With commitment comes faith; don’t delegate faith. Have it in you and do not rely on others to delegate your faith to,” said Chilima, adding: “Gone are the day people used to say “Mukatipemphere (Go and pray on my behalf): that is not faith.”

The Veep further advised the Lilongwe Arch Diocese Chancellor College Catholic Alumni Association members to desist from discrimination and formation of ‘cycles’ amongst themselves as this, Chilima warned, would close other members out, leaving them with what the Veep described as an it’s-for-them-and-not-for-me-or-us feeling.

In his speech, Arch Bishop Ziyaye, also stressed on commitment to serving the Church and the need for the Chanco Catholic alumni to use their respective talents to benefit the Church on pro borno basis as others were already doing.

“The Church needs you; engineers, contractors, doctors, lawyer, journalists and many other fields. We are proud to have people of various fields like is the case here and we ask you to serve the church because in doing so there is that contentment and a fulfilling feeling in your heart that you gave something to the Church or to someone when they needed it,” said Ziyaye.

Apart from being graduate of University of Malawi, Chilima in August 2015 obtained a doctor of philosophy in knowledge management from  the University of Bolton in United Kingdom.

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Disgruntled area 18 resident
Disgruntled area 18 resident
6 years ago

What you did to Malawians, you will not be forgiven by hacking the phones network during elections to favour the failed party.All those people at St Patrick new to what you did.They were just pretending listening to you.You had even better not mentioned about votes. Nobody will pity you.All votes are for Chakwera now.

dee kay
dee kay
6 years ago

COULD THIS BE THE REASON CATHOLIC BISHOPS ARE NOT PRODUCING PASTORAL LETTER BECAUSE ONE OF THEIR OWN IS AMONG LOOTERS PROMOTING CASHGATE? BEING THE CHIEF LOOTER IN RIGGING ELECTIONS CATHOLICS MUST BE ASHAMED OF HIS CLAIMS. NOW MALAWIANS ARE AWARE THAT THESE BISHOPS HAVE FAVOURTISM TENDENCIES. THEY SHOULD HAVE SMELT A RAT FROM RIGGING ELECTIONS TO CASHGATE PROMOTERS, HE NOW HIDES BEHIND CHURCH AND VISIT TO THE POPE. AS A CATHOLIC HOW DOES HE FEEL UNDER THIS FAILED GOVERNMENT OF THIEVES WHICH HE’S CONSENT TO? SHAME.

Tafwa Chipalamandule
Tafwa Chipalamandule
6 years ago

Rght Hon VP, INU BWANA MTIMA M’MALO. You have my huge support and wherever you are, just know that you have got a disciple somewhere by the name Chipalamandule. Bwana ine na mwana winu nili pamanyuma pinu nganganganga – Rain or Sunshine! Yebo bwana!!!! Remain a strong believer because ‘With God, there is nothing imposible!

Chindime
Chindime
6 years ago

Iwe Chilima udandaula chiyani ,ifetu sitidaiwale zimene udapanga pobwera mavoti ,udzasokoneza network ya mmalawi muno .mzako ndi uyo odamupha Mbendera adasiya ma billion osadyera mkomwe watsala ndiwe uphedwaso .Udatilakwira kwambiri ona lero iweso sukudyerera nawo koma mavoti udabwera wekha mbavazo sizidziwa ndi computer yomwe .ukachita kutumbwa kuti za computer zo lekerani ife .Lero mkumalira zako izo ife tidzavotera Congress Party

ayonzo Mtsitsa
6 years ago

I am in love with this Malawi VP,thou iam not gay! His looks too is very good just as his political mileage!

wakatolika wenewene
wakatolika wenewene
6 years ago

koma zandale zikugwilizana bwanji ndi za mpingo apa sakupanga za dpp aku panga za catholic ndiye wina kusamvesesa aku tchulapo DPP kenako MCP,heheheeeee,kuganiza ngati mwana moti VP walakwisapo chani? kuti muphatikize mpingo ndi ndale moti ST Patricks ingakhale ndi anthu a MCP okhaokha,shame on you,Chilima ndi Peter sali ngati Chakwera omati akayamba ndale kuiwala Yehova.Apa bwanawa akupanga za mpingo ife akatolika zikafika apa timati: Akatolika ndi amodzi samalekana ndipo umvesese ife akatolika zingavute bwanji zandale zivute bwanji zampila sizingatilekanitse.Samalekana samalekani ngakhale mmavuto pwapwa,mmajatu menemo,akatolika ndiamodzi samalekana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zagwa
Zagwa
6 years ago

Issues of faith are very difficult to understand and to a greater extent they are acquired by birth. It’s very important to look at them very soberly because they can create unnecessary enemity. Most killings are actually because of such. Most important is ones personal relationship with the creator and NOT how much you are dedicated to some churches which were just introduced to us by foreigners in any case. These foreigners don’t dedicate themselves to those beliefs anymore. Do your research and Good luck

Rift Valley
Rift Valley
6 years ago

Abale, it does not mean you should forget your church after you have joined politics. In fact this is the time you should seek God’s help in whatever you do. As far as I can recollect, Saulos has never missed a church service whenever in Blantyre, perhaps due to his upbringing. I therefore see nothing wrong with the way he is going about with his spiritual life and, in his capacity, encouraging others to devote their time to church issues is the way to go. I know many Catholic cabinet ministers and MP’s who frequent the church only during election… Read more »

God First
God First
6 years ago

Bravo, Mr VP. There is no VP in Heaven. God bless you.

Fumuzapasi.
Fumuzapasi.
6 years ago

Tamva nawo ife.

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