Mutharika ‘sorry’ over churches shutdown: Malawi presidential aide delivers apology in Balaka
President Peter Mutharika sent his aide Apostle Timothy Khoviwa to apologise to church goers in Balaka over the shut down of churches on Sunday by police as a preventive measure against coronavirus.
The presidential advisor on religious affairs Khoviwa has confirmed making the apology on behalf of Mutharika over the incident.
“At the moment, there is no restriction to stop prayer gatherings in totality,” Khoviwa said.
He, however, said that people should continue observing the coronavirus preventive measures guidelines.
Some church leaders in the district are already calling for the transfer of the police officer-in-charge in the district.
Earlier, police justified its decision to close churches on Sunday, saying this was done in public interest.
Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said this was done to enforce the government order of suspending public gatherings.
Pastors in Balaka on Sunday evening met to demand Police explanation on why, earlier the day, they went around the district disrupting church gatherings in the name of Covid-19.
Pastor Lington Gwazeni, who is the chairperson of the Evangelical Association of Malawi Balaka Chapter said they summoned the Officer In-Charge for Balaka Police and District Council Chair to explain their action.
The police boss did not show up and Council Chair Steve Sauka says the Police did not consult the council about the move.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Jappie Mhango said two new cases were reported on Monday – bringing the total number of cases to 36 with three deaths and four recoveries.
Mhango said the new cases were a 47-year-old man from Chileka Blantyre, who returned from Tanzania on April 18 and the other one was a 29-year-old man from Livimbo in area 2 Lilongwe, who had no history of recent travel.
Health officials were doing contact tracing to test all persons who were in contact with the two men.
The High Court in Lilongwe was expected to deliver a judgment on Wednesday in a case involving the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) which obtained an order stopping government from implementing a three-week long lockdown in attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19.
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Some policemen just want to show boma that they are on these special duties so that they allowances and also to make Mutharika look bad
Where is a died man, why is he not coming out of sanjika and address his people? Something is fishy here.
Apostle Khoviwa chonde uthenga sulemera. Tikufuna adadie atilankhule okha chifukwa anyamata awo inu mukukamba zosiyana. We have missed him on many burning issues out here, mwangowatenga ngati anu okha ku State House. Tingomva Mgeme this Mgeme that, then Jappie, Namalika now inuyo. Abwana atuluke tawasowa kwambiri kwambiro
Apostle Khoviwa, uthenga sulemera, chonde mukatinenere kwa bwana kuti tawasowa alilankhule okha. Nanga tizingomva kwa inu, Mgeme, Jappie, Namalika? We have missed adadie, let him address the nation on so many issues out here
zoona
Peter muntharika and the entire DPP cabinet you’re stupidest leaders of Malawi government
I am now very confused. The govt banned church gatherings and now it is appologising for inforcing it. Looks like the pilot has taken a chute and passengers are left to crash
tippex government…try’ n ‘error
Let us take note that various statements and actions are being attributed to the president, but he has not been physically seen or heard to do anything for about 3 weeks now.
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Who in DPP really sent the fake apostle to Balaka to apologise, and who really wrote the recent statement denouncing Chilima’s TV address?
CHOPEREKA CHOMWE CHINASOWA MUBWEZERA?
My might man of God, where are you to advise the president that this country is degenerating into chaos. Where are you my spiritual father. My apostle as Prophet tell the KING that Malawi is becoming a banana republic. The president should come out of the cacoon and exaplain to the nation where he was hiding and why?