Public Affairs Committee (PAC), the prominent civil society, interfaith organisation made up of the main Protestant, Catholic and Muslim faith groups in Malawi has criticised President Bingu wa Mutharika for his war cry speech and an attack of the clergy.
Mutharika on Thursday went to town slamming head of Roman Catholic Church in Malawi, His Grace Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza for his straight-talking sermon during the National Day of Prayers last week.
But in a media statement issued on Friday, the multi-faith organisation condemned Mutharika’s hate speech saying the preaching on the day stood for truth and justice.
“PAC supports the preaching of the 16 August, 2011 by various clergy at COMESA Hall. Their openness in disseminating the Word of God is much appreciated. Men of God must always stand for truth and must side with those who suffer in silence,” the statement issued by acting Chairperson of the PAC Reverend MacDonald Kadawati said.
Reverend Kadawati: Mutharika's remarks unfortunate
“Religious leaders enjoy respect because followers entrust authority upon them, and at all times they must fight for a common man in the society,” reads the statement made available to Nyasa Times.
Mutharika, who is under fire over chronic fuel and foreign exchange shortages and is also accused of infringing democratic freedoms, said according to him, Bishop Zuza in his homily was insinuating that he is chindere (stupid).
But PAC said “Malawians themselves are best judges whether the president is for amicable solutions to challenges facing the country or not. “
The faith group described Mutharika’s tantrum as “unacceptable” and “misplaced” in the current political landscape.
In his homily, Bishop Zuza said: “The person who thinks and believes that he or she is perfect is actually the most stupid and foolish person. In Chichewa and Tumbuka we call such people as chitsiru cha munthu or chindere.”
“Do we want to be called chitsiru or chindere because we think we are perfect and we have all the best solutions for the storm that is passing through our country? Fellow Malawians, let us not become stupid people. Let us accept our roles and see how best as a nation we can calm the storm that is before us.”
The prayers were organised by Episcopal Conference of Malawi and Malawi Council of Churches to seek God’s intervention on problems facing the country.
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