Mutharika accused of meddling in CCAP Blantyre Synod campaign, Nankhumwa refutes

Some Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod clergy have claimed President Peter Mutharika is bankrolling their campaign for the position of General Secretary of the Synod but government spokesman has rubbished the claims.

The current synod secretary general is Reverend Alexander Maulana and his deputy is Reverend Moyenda Kanjerwa.

Aspirants for the position includes former presidential aide Reverend Billy Gama.

President Mutharika is said to be funding the campaign of some candidates but Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa said the President should not be dragged into church elections.

“It has been confirmed that during the campaign in question some candidates are claiming that they have been given financial resources by the State President as proof that their candidature has been endorsed by the President who incidentally is a faithful of the Blantyre Synod,” Nankhumwa said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times.

He said President Mutharika is not involved in the campaign adding that he has not endorsed any candidate and is not backing any contender.

According to Nankhumwa, President Mutharika is just following the events like any other faithful of the Blantyre Synod.

“The President is of the firm view that the church is vital partner in assisting government to fight corruption and cultivate unity among the people, two vital ingredients for achieving social-economic development in Malawi. As such the State President cannot be party to machinations of dividing the church by siding with one candidate against another or indeed sowing seeds of corruption by supporting one candidate with financial resources to campaign against another,” Nankhumwa said in the statement.

The government spokesman said the President’s advise to all competing candidates is to campaign in a manner that gives glory to God.

“As such, as they campaign, let them not divide the body of Christ which is the Church so that a united Synod will contribute to inspiring the nation to respond positively to the call of unity or purpose.”