Zambia churches applaud Malawi leadership change
Following the peaceful transition of power from late president Bingu wa Mutharika to current Malawi leader Mrs. Joyce Banda, Zambian churches have expressed extreme sentiments
on the development.
In a letter dated 10th April 2012 and addressed to their colleagues, the Malawi Council of Churches, the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) said “We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Malawians for the smooth constitutional transition of power where the Vice President, Mama Joyce Hilda Banda, was elevated to the Presidency without incidence.”
“We pray that the peace exhibited by the Malawian people on this occasion will prevail not only now but forever more. We wish the President continued good health…,” said the letter, titled Malawi Political Leadership Transition, signed by Reverend Suzanne Membe-Matale, who is the chairperson of the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCCISA).
The neighbouring Christian churches also said they pray that the rule of law will prevail in Malawi and that Malawians will support the new President after this transition “…so that together you can make Malawi a better place for all.”
Copied to FOCCISA’s general secretary and all general secretaries under FOCCISA, the churches also expressed their deepest sympathies at the demise of Mutharika.
Mutharika died on 5th April following a cardiac arrest and was replaced by Banda on 7th April 2012 in a peaceful ceremony despite some cabinet ministers trying to usurp power over the constitutional
requirements.
