Minister Mtambo orders Blantyre City Council to apologize to Muslims, Christians over the billboard
The Ministry of Civic Education and National Unity has order the Blantye City Council (BCC) to apologize to Muslims, Christians and the entire Malawi nation for risking the country a civil strife between co-existing religious communities.
The council is being accused of failing to resolve a misunderstanding between the Muslim community and the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) over a billboard the Islamic Information Bureau (IIB) erected in Blantyre.
IIB had duly obtained permission from BCC and met its fee obligations to erect a billboard, which the Christian community felt was tantamount to “comparison between the Bible and the Qur’an’ and, therefore, considered as a recipe for religious conflict in Malawi.
The misgivings the EAM had expressed prompted the council to remove the billboard on the night before July 29 2020, much to the dissatisfaction of the client (IIB).
This has prompted the Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, Timothy Pagonachi Mtambo, to write the Chief Executive Officer for BCC, Alfred Chanza, to express his disappointment over the way the council authorities handled the matter.
Mtambo has chastised the council for failing to engage both parties in a discussion to appreciate each party’s concerns and arrive at a common agreement amicably.
“If the BCC met and found merit in the complaints by EAM, it was not upon the council to unilaterally remove the billboard without informing IIB,” says Mtambo in the letter.
He emphasizes that while the ministry has engaged the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) to facilitate discussions with the two parties for an amicable solution and to safely and sustainably defuse the tension and all latent issues, the council should, in the interim and within 48 hours from receipt of the letter, apologize to Muslims, Christians and the entire nation for the mishandling of the incident and risking civil strife between coexisting religious communities.
“This apology becomes necessary and due because BCC failed to engage the two parties into a discussion to safely resolve the contest; BCC failed to inform its client of its decision to remove the billboard; BCC allegedly removed the billboard during night and failed to communicate either to the public or its clients, thereby creating room for suspicions that the party that entered the complaint was responsible for the removal. This is a recipe for further antagonizing the two parties,” says Mtambo.
The minister adds that as a matter of recommendation, he has suggested that approval of outdoor advertisements in all cities and municipalities should pass a vetting test where contents of adverts should be confirmed free of conflict liabilities.
Islam is a mental disorder.
you are a mentor disorder, cursed from both your parents
There is no need for an apology here by the BCC, in fact the nation awaits your apology for destroying people s property n busineses through the demos you led. Again, BCC is not under your ministry n you think you have powers over every institution?
BCC should apologise because it authorized the erection of that billboard and accepted a fee.
It can’t come back at night to remove the billboard without consulting the owners. Christians are being selfish here, thinking Malawi belongs to them alone forgetting that Malawi ngwa Tonse. BCC is full of DPP cadets!
Bwana Mtambo, deal with these low lives!
For give them ndiye mbuli ya ambuli.
Mmaiko ambili
Amaika ma billboard mmbali mwa mseu,
Atalembapo ndime za mu Qur an kapena
M’baibulo.
Sizachilendo kwa munthu oyendayenda
ndikumalabadila zooneka ndi zochitika mmaikomo.
Good Mtambo thus the way for Malawi watonse
This animal should apologise toalawians for the violent demonstrat6,destruction of businesses and killing of a police mean. Why should BCA apologise she we know that it’s, Zac kusalala who started the stupidity
Zio ine, comment on the issue on hand and if you do not have any then just avoid writing anything at all as you are just exposing your lack of thinking to the whole world!
tell apm to apologise to malawians first for theft of public resources secondly for the deaths of issah njauju , a police officer in Thyolo kwa Goliati , the killing of masambuka & Buleya LLulle, 20 innocent Malawians that were killed on 20 july 2011 by dpp led by bingu, the death of chasowa, for keeping us in blackouts for 5years while he syphoned fuel from escom. he should also apologise for the death of the Tambala family in area 24. so who has commited more sins
Chipembedzo amachita kupanga advertise?
Ahh, that’s why GOD have us the Free Will, to choose right or wrong, so my Muslim brothers, just preach, people will come if they want, don’t entice them with adverts,
What if we wake up with a bill board saying the other way around? Like if you want to go to heaven go to church because that’s where you’ll find the teachings that Jesus is the way the truth and the life.
We don’t need religious billboards in this country,
The free will is there already
well said
Mwayankhula bwino bwana/dona.
Best comments. All religion have their origin in tribal prejudices, loving Mr. God for tribesmen, vengeful others.
Best thing to happen is to ban all religions
anzathuwa amasowa kuwauza anthu zoona chifukwa ena even polalikila amachita kunena kuti ndichipembozo chathu chokha chomwe chili choona which is not correct they forget that worshiping and knowing God they are two different things or reading his words and being faithful to God they are not the same. stop lying to people that our religion will take you to heaven but your faith to God is the only way you would find salvation.
Why shld BT council apologize?
Fotseki did you apologise to Malawians for vandalising there property during demos
kuganiza mopepela mwene
The problem here is ‘being OVERZEALOUS’
My Moslem brothers are being overzealous with their beliefs here.
My Christian brothers are being overzealous with their beliefs here contrary to Jesus’ teachings of perpetual love.
BCC is being overzealous here with politics thinking that the contents of the billboard will annoy the highest office which is ‘Christian’ by virtue of its holders.
Mtambo is being overzealous here thinking that everybody listens to him