Mutharika hold talks with Anglican Bishops: Calls for religious intervention in rescuing Malawi

President Peter Mutharika has called  for the intervention of religious organizations in running the affairs of the people of Malawi in collaboration with his government.

Mutharika said this on Tuesday when he held an audience with Anglican bishops from Central Africa Province at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

The bishops came from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the host country Malawi.

The President said Malawi being a God fearing nation seriously need to work hand in hand with religious organizations as the country is also guided by spiritual values.

“The Church and state serve the same population as such we must not tire in working hand in hand as we seek solutions to the nation’s problems,” Mutharika said.

He also called upon all politicians and religious leaders to preach the newly found pillars for Malawi in the name of patriotism, hard work and intergrity.

“Both in political and religious spheres, we must continuously preach our newly found pillars of development namely patriotism, hard work and intergrity,” Mutharika said.

Mutharika also hailed the Anglican Church for provision of spiritual guidance and physical development towards the improvement of livelihood of its flock in particular and the nation in general since the province was inagurated in Malawi in 1955.

he President highlighted that since the early missionaries set foot in Central Africa over a century ago, the Anglican church has pushed development of the soul hand in hand with that of the body by engaging in various projects and programmes.

“The Anglican Church here is doing a lot, in providing for the body and the soul. You are running schools and hospitals. You are supporting agriculture, and you are with us in times of emergencies, such as the devastating floods and droughts we experienced the past two years. You are also in environmental rehabilitation and management,” said the President.

The Malawi leader reiterated the need for Church and State to work collectively in instilling good values in the citizenry in a bid to get the country pushing in one direction when it comes to development.

“Church and Government are partners in development. Together we take care of the Body and the Soul. Here in Malawi, we have agreed on pillars through which we will develop our country, namely Patriotism, Integrity and Hardwork,” he said.

President Mutharika added that : “One can only recognize one of your central teachings that “Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God” if they are patriotic, have integrity and work hard.”

The bishops’ contingent was led by Archbishop of Central Africa Province, Most Reverend Albert Chama who is also Bishop of Northern Zambia.