APA-Lilongwe (Malawi) In a scathing critique, Malawi’s Catholic bishops have publicly condemned the Lazarus Chakwera-led government for leading the nation into a state of despair and hopelessness.
In their Lenten Pastoral letter titled “The Sad Story of Malawi” and read across all Catholic churches in the country on Sunday, the bishops drew a grim picture of the current state of affairs in Malawi, likening it to Bagamoyo, an infamous off-sea shore town that symbolized loss of hope for slaves during the slave trade era.
They expressed deep concern over a myriad of social, political, religious and economic challenges facing the nation under the Malawi Congress Party (MCP)-led Tonse Alliance government.
Key issues highlighted include fruitless engagements with President Chakwera, rampant corruption, excessive expenditure by leadership on trips, dubious awarding of contracts to corruption suspects, threats to freedom of speech, nepotism, and non-commitment to proposed public service reforms.
Other issues raised were government’s failed affordable agricultural inputs programme, depreciation of local currency, rising hunger and poverty, failure by the authorities to support deserving university students with fees, a corrupt and inefficient judiciary system, and religious intolerance and violence.
The Tonse Alliance, which comprises Chakwera’s MCP and the United Transformation Movement led by Vice President Saulos Chilima, romped to victory in an election re-run in 2020 on a promise of ridding the country of corruption and job creation.
The euphoria that accompanied the Tonse Alliance poll victory has, however, turned into despair for most Malawians who accuse the Chakwera administration of doing the same things – if not worse – that they promised to do away with.
Despite these overwhelming challenges, the bishops urged citizens not to lose faith and hope.
As the country prepares for elections in 2025, the bishops called on Malawians to exercise their constitutional right diligently by voting for leaders committed to prioritizing citizens’ welfare above all else.
Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu confirmed receipt of the pastoral letter and pledged that the government would look into “some cited challenges”.
“We acknowledge some cited challenges and remain determined to use the bishops’ wisdom to continue building on the progress the country is making,” Kunkuyu said in a statement late Sunday.
JN/APA