Message of condolences and solidarity by Malawi Council of Churches
The Malawi Council of Churches acting as a mouth Peace of its Member Churches in this God Fearing Country has heard with a deep shock and disappointment of the sadden death of our State President the Late Professor Bingu Wa Mutharika. As a Church Body we would like to underline the fact that our approach to political and wide ranging issues affecting our nation is spiritual, prophetic and non partisan and must be understood to be different from other bodies.
The Council of Churches, therefore wishes to make the following statement during this trying moment the nation is found in:
1. The Malawi Council Of Churches wishes to convey its deep heart felt Condolences to the believed family, Her Excellency the First Lady Madame Callista Mutharika, The Brother to the late President Honorable Professor Peter Mutharika and the entire believed family.
2. We also convey our heart felt condolences to Her Excellency President Joyce Banda, the government of Malawi and the people of Malawi.
3. The Malawi Council of Churches, further wishes to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) to maintain the constitutional order in the Republic and ensure the peaceful transitional process of the country’s leadership.
4. As Malawi Council of Churches, we would wish to join all those voices that were calling for constitutional order to be upheld in its totality by the government and all concerned government arms.
Alternatives to this would be a pre-request for chaos and disorder.
We therefore, fully acknowledge with appreciation the actions already taken by the OPC in recognizing [Her Excellency] Joyce Banda, to assume the position of the President of the Republic of
Malawi. However, all this should be done prayerfully with the spirit of mourning, patience and understanding. We would like to remind all Malawians that as a God- Fearing Nation, Malawi must seriously seek God’s interventions and directives, listening to His Spirit and guidance in this period of mourning and transition.
5. The death of the Head of State is not a simple matter for any nation. Malawians are mourning and must be allowed to mourn peacefully and genuinely deserving the Leader of the nation. Malawi as a nation must be allowed to mourn its departed leader peacefully and no one should take advantage of this loss to achieve there own personal interest over against the national interest and the common good. As always is the case, this is the period of confusion and loss for
majority of Malawians. Therefore, the period of mourning must be a period of patience, tolerance and reconciliation and understanding for all of us.
6. Malawi Council of Churches, wishes Her Excellency the President, Cabinet Ministers and all those in authority the necessary wisdom and sensitivity as well as God’s guidance in managing the affairs of the nation at this crucial moment in time. Further, to this, as a Council of Churches we call upon other Stakeholders, Religious Leaders, Traditional Authorities, International Community, the Private Sector, Civil Society and the Media and all other players to tone down and join hands in contributing constructively and avoid destructive elements that could easily derail reconciliation and national building. We would therefore like to remind every one that God is watching us and our actions similarly the International Community and the whole world is watching and waiting to see how we as Malawians can mourn and brief our departed Head of State.
7. Malawi Council of Churches hereby calls upon all Member Churches and peace loving Malawians to seriously pray and commit to God our political leaders and the nation at large and pray for peaceful coexistence, calm, law and order to be maintained in our country during this period of mourning.
(For there is hope that even when a tree is cut it will sprout again and its leaves shall be young and fresh Job 14:7)
Bishop Dr. Joseph Bvumbwe Rev Bossman Suzumile Chitheka
MCC Board Chairperson MCC Vice Board Chairperson
Rev Dr. Osborne Joda-Mbewe
MCC General Secretary
