Will God save Malawians from hunger?

Jan 13, 2016 Opinion 168
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Peter Mutharika

Malawi President, Peter Mutharika recently called for and attended national prayers asking God for good rains in the current rain season. At the moment most of the districts in Malawi are experiencing a dry spell, some have not had any rains. The worry could soon turn into fear should the dry spell continue.

Peter Mutharika
Will God answer Mutharika’s prayers?

Malawi prides itself as “God-fearing nation” so these prayers were not totally out of place but more pragmatic people would genuinely question whether as a country Malawi should really invest its agricultural future in prayers and not, among other things, irrigation to capitalise on its abundant water resources the very God the country is praying for blessed the country with.

Recently I spent a week in Mangochi, a lakeshore district in Southern Malawi. On our way there a sign of the dry spell was visibly clear, maize of about six leaves was wilting, the leaves resembling something like grey-ish leaves of a healthy onion plant. Another week or so of the dry spell surely spells disaster for Mangochi farmers – a district blessed with two massive bodies of water, Lakes Malawi and Malombe.

One of my colleagues noticed a paradox as Lake Malombe became visible. Here was a body of water and only few meters away crops are wilting. “folks are in their houses waiting for the rain to revive their maize”, a colleague lamented. This is not any different from the national prayers – as a country Malawi cannot make use of its national resources

The debate around this is always about who should shoulder the blame and not the pertinent issue of what is to be done. It has become a traditional in Malawi to shift blame on serious national issues such as this one. Folks cannot think through even straightforward issues and make use of national resources, instead folks are so eager to turn to God for miracles.

With the change in weather patterns, it is has been clear for some time now that irrigation is the only way if Malawi is to ensure food security. Yet, the issue of irrigation is a mere lip-service for country’s leaders who are only happy to provide ineffective farm input subsidies because it give them cheap political credits. Yet farm subsidies are only useful if there is effective irrigation systems. You can’t bet with rain.

It is important to note that since the turn of multiparty democracy in 1994 Malawi leaders have been reluctant to take on programmes that would take more than five year presidential term circle to complete. National development projects have become a political trophy to parade for re-election. It is poor Malawians who are paying heavily for this selfish politics. Malawi needs a pragmatic, selfless and a patriotic leader who is prepared to look beyond personal interests.

*Views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of Malawi24. Email your articles to [email protected] for publication.

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168 Comments

  1. Hunger will be there even if u try this and that. Jesus is coming soon bcoz it was prophesied before mind u we r in injury tym

  2. Fodyatu kumadya bwino osalankhula Zolaulira dziko apa ikakhala njala ili mgawo ya time line or historical time line ndeno tiyeni tivomereze kuti vuto latifikira ngati tili ndi nthandizo tiyeni tithandize abale athu kumudzi osamangotaya nthawi ndikulalatira atsogoleri ai

  4. Tiyambepo irrigation and our leaders should take responsibility for failing to come up with sustainable means of ending hunger. too much politics but when you cant see beyond your nose, you support those who use you to remain in power.

  22. Guys let us stop blaming upon a president, because all we know dat dis z a will of Allah & t was already said dat in lasting days more difficults will arise

  23. This is just the begining yet yu call someone who has bring in all this calamity to attend prayers,or have yu forgoten that just for legalising abominable acts is rejecting blessings from God? #SHAME!!

  27. Do not blame God blame your laziness rain is falling stop cutting down trees do not pretend as if you are an angel Nonsense who does not know that you have children every location who does not know that you collect money from the poorest in the name of God and you are wallowing in riches driving cars when the people are hungry.Why not use the money to buy maize for your congregation

  29. Asiyeni chauta simunthu adya zomwezi mpaka kumagula ma car otsogolo pomwe anthu akuvutika ndi njala koma namachende uyu bwamphin manyaka nyela mkulape mathanyula apm ndi galu weni weni osayesapo mulungu apa inu anyani inu

  30. Asiyeni chauta simunthu adya zomwezi mpaka kumagula ma car otsogolo pomwe anthu akuvutika ndi njala koma namachende uyu bwamphin manyaka nyela mkulape mathanyula apm ndi galu weni weni osayesapo mulungu apa inu anyani inu

  31. During Dr K Banda regime, there were so many Estates which were producing maize and there were so many Rice schemes but due to ignorance all the Estates and Schemes are no more. So where do you think Malawi can get maize and other kind of foods?
    Maulamuliro achibwanawa akutipweteketsa a Malawi.

  32. During Dr K Banda regime, there were so many Estates which were producing maize and there were so many Rice schemes but due to ignorance all the Estates and Schemes are no more. So where do you think Malawi can get maize and other kind of foods?
    Maulamuliro achibwanawa akutipweteketsa a Malawi.

  35. Guys kuno ku south Africa kulibetso mvula Anthu aku mwalila chifukwa cha Dzuwa koma sizoti kuno akunyoza President ayi mulungu alinafe cholinga chakachatha timalila ndi mvula analiso President yemwe anabweresa mvula yochuluka amalawi muziganizila musanalakhule President si mulungu ayi mumusiye Mulungu akhale Mulungu .Amen

  36. Guys kuno ku south Africa kulibetso mvula Anthu aku mwalila chifukwa cha Dzuwa koma sizoti kuno akunyoza President ayi mulungu alinafe cholinga chakachatha timalila ndi mvula analiso President yemwe anabweresa mvula yochuluka amalawi muziganizila musanalakhule President si mulungu ayi mumusiye Mulungu akhale Mulungu .Amen

  37. Wakumudziyo akuyenera kulongolora chifukwa chomwe iye akudalira pa umoyo wake ndi ulimi basi ndiye ngati akulira mumvereni osamanyodzana ngati anthu akuwakakamila mr president ndipachiwoni chifukwa anyamula dziko la malawi koma asanakhwime maganizo amangomva kuti kuli ulamuliro anthawa amenewa

  38. You Dont Have To Bother Yourself Check In Tha Bible And It Says That InThe Last Days Wil Be Femine Drowts Reberion On The Nations And Theres Nothing To Stop It The Word Of God Must B Fulfiled And Every System Is Falling Apart Un Is Falling Apart Nothing Can Hold Just Believe On The Lord Jesus See?Repent Or Perish

  49. supposing u’ve done something wro to ur father or uncle and you want him to buy somthng for u. Asking for forgvness and begging somthing which of these two shud be done first? Repeant the homoxxx sin then beg rain and i declaire within 5min Jehova will flood the whole Malawi wth good rain Amen.

  51. Malawi ikuchita mantha ndi Njala not HIV/AIDS any more zodabwitsa bwanji. Mvula maiko ambiri yavuta kunonso Ku Namibia mvula kulibe. Koma kulibe kulongolora ngati kumudziko.

  52. Mvula ndiimene imabwelesa chakudya kma pitala anayakhula kunya atagolowa kumene Ali mukuona bwanji ndagolowa kumene taonani phesi wachimaga chitatu 4 chitatu 4 amaiwala lelo mulungu wakwia nanu

  54. Laughable and useless :1 God gave us enough water,we have lakes and rivers,why dont we make use of that through Irrigation.Does it make sense to call for rains when we have lakes and rivers. 2 God can give us rains only if The President and his Dpp have rePented.Have they ? They use and eat cashgate money,they are beneficiaries of 577bn cashgate money.How can God bless malawi when we are governed by Thieves,and Liars ?

  55. When people in Sodom and Gomora started evil deeds of homosexuals,GOD send fire upon them and they were completely been demolished.So relate the story above with what our country is doing now,may JESUS CHRIST open your eyes.

  56. To say the truth chauta watikwiyira coz chazikhalidwe zachilendo zomwe amalawi tikutengera only pray to god atikhululukire ndipo Malawi avomereze kulakwitsa

  57. That z Malawian thinking, taking evrythng negatively……… Thats y we dont develop, amwenye ndi ma burundi kumalemera ife tikuwaona

  58. Dzulo ndachita kuona ndekha banja la azimayi omwe akwatilana okhaokha kuno ku rustenberg ku johanesberg mvulanso kulibe koma sindidamvepo eni dziko akukamba za leadership kuti zuma mulungu wakwiya naye,ndiye muzitaya nthawi ndikukamba za peter!! tili m’masiku otsiliza mpang’ono chabe pamenepa, chinchin6 tinaona!!

  59. Mr president, plz stop achinamathanyulawa .God can forgive us,umust remember what happened in Sodom and Gomola,kuchimwa kwanu kusapangitse mtundu wa amalawi onse uvutike,zonsezi kamba ka inu

  60. Tilape machimo athu a Malawi.Tsidzingatheke kuti mukupha mvula kwa mlungu, mlungu yemweyo mukulakwila pomvomeleza amuna adzikwatilana.Bwanji otsafunsa ma guy anuwo akupatseni mvula?

  61. kkkkkkkk sometymz u laugh God gave us the lakes and rivers infact God said man shud rule evrythng on earth we fail to utilize what God gave us…instead of thankng him fo givin us waters that give us a tripple food available..we rememba him wen hunger strike..malaw get up and open those eyes…otherwise God wants those who heip emseves

  62. Kungoti anthu sakuona,akhrstu onse lero mumati makiyi mulungu anapatsa mwana wache Yesu,tiyeni tipemphe makiyi atenga mwini wache Mulungu.

  63. Ndani angakhale wabwino ena anathawa mulungu yemweyo kusiya baibulo kuyambakunyamula kachithunzi katambala ena anaba ndikuthawa ena mukuti ndi mdyelejezi? ¿¿¿

  64. Mulungu wakwiya ndi utsogoleri wa mdyelekezi.Your now calling upon God who is so angry with Legalising Homosexuality.And this is jus the start. If Malawi will not change its governing strategies, sure more deaths because of hunger will follow.Not diseases but Hunger.

  65. Umbuli usakule apa climate change read human geographic book and u will get the correct answer. Simwauza azinganga anuwo kut akabemo mitengo ija cholinga mupeze malo muzilimapo, peter ndiye atani? Kumangopemphera basi

  66. KODI OMWENU A DPP SIWOMWE AJA MUMKANENA KUTI DPP NDIN’THETSA NJALA MUMAGANIZAKO KUTI MULUNGU NDIYEMWE AMABWELETSA MVULA?? LELO MUSATEMBENUZE LILIME MKUMATI KUNYUMBA KWA PRESIDENT SIKUKHALA MVULA?? MBUZI ZA WANTHU LELO MUMUDZIWATU MULUNGU KUSIMBWA.

  68. Mukivutika ndikunyozana chikhulupiiliro chanu chilipati mukuti pitala yekha ndiye ochimwa apamwayamba kutukwana choncho mvula ingabwere#James japhet aliyense alindinjira yake yopezera ngati ndiwe olemera ukulira chani asiye amzako apange zimene amatha kupatula kupha ndikuba jaya kudziko lachilendo who cares?

  70. kodi mukalapa machimo anu sindidzakhulukira inu? tiyeni tilape kuti mulungu akhululukire Malawi, gay marriages mulungu wakwiya nayo kwambiri malawians lets fear God

  71. kodi mukalapa machimo anu sindidzakhulukira inu? tiyeni tilape kuti mulungu akhululukire Malawi, gay marriages mulungu wakwiya nayo kwambiri malawians

  72. kodi mukalapa machimo anu sindidzakhulukira inu? tiyeni tilape kuti mulungu akhululukire Malawi, gay marriages mulungu wakwiya nayo kwambiri malawians

  73. God is able to save Malawi from hunger, why doubting we still have doubting Thomas? He did that during the time of late Archbishop James Chiona, why not today

  74. we prayed to Almighty God, and the Bible says our God is a hearing God. Then why doubting. we have to patiently wait and see what God can do, remember you cannot rush God into doing what we desperately anticipate from him.

  75. Ine ndimati amalawi ulesi, ku sauth kuli njala anthu akudzilimbila okha, moza kulinjala anthu sakudikila boma akulimbana nazo okha, koma kumalawi mukulimbana ndi boma, chifukwa mumangokhala manja mbwe, ogwila tchito ndi ochepa ndiye muziona simubati.

  77. Every knee will bowl down and comfence that Jesus is the Lord,Peter I now give thanks to you pakuti apa wangonja mpaka kukumbukila kuti umupemphe ambuye mvula,now ndikukupemphanso iweyo kuti umupemphenso Chauta emweyo akupase yankho lakayendesedwe kudziko lathu komanso akuonese ndikukupasa yankho kuti ukwati weni weni ndiuti b4 kumuyankha America yankho lichokela kumwamba ndipo chakochilichonse chizachokera kumwamba on top of that pray for your on protection remove your fear for human being but your God please.

  81. When the president offers prayers as a solution, that is how you know we are screwed… Promoting a climate of laziness and helplessness. Prayers don’t work. And when they seem like they do, the exact same thing can be attributed to luck… We need solutions, not prayers

  82. In answering the question God will save malawians from hunger.If you know God and his works surely you would have not asked the question he does things beyond our imagination. He always love his people and be assured that no suffering. He is so nice and cant allow his people to sturve.

  84. what kind of question is that?? even if the rains doesnt come for seven years God is capable of feeding Malawi. for once u have made angry Malawi24

  90. Kuno ku South Africa anthu akuchita kusowa madzi akumwa zimanga nazo zidauma koma palibe akulimbana ndi Zuma tiyeni tigwadeni pasi tilape ano ndi masiku otsiliza mulungu ali okozeka kumva mapemphero athu

  91. Inu mukufunsa fungo chimbudzi okuyakhani ayakhe kuti chani, anthu amafunsa boma kumati muthu wamwalila ndinjala ndiye mukuti chani, mukuti iye ayakhe kuti chani.

  93. Mukati wabwerertsa njala si pitala kukanakhala kuti mvula yabwera bwino anthu nkukolola chakudya chambiri, mawu aja oti ndathetsa njala sakanatuluka? Bwanji simufuna kuvomereza kuti mwaononga zinthu?

  94. Am sory 2 say this but GOD is angry with Malawi’s leaders, the cause r cashgate, jetgate and currently homosexaulgate. I was God i could have punished Malawi ass well

  96. In my own opinion, I think this is the time when the government shld do something for it’s people. The FISP will never benefit Malawi but our government shld change such programs & start doing real business on Agriculture. We have Shire river, lake Malawi & other rivers that keep water all year, why can’t government utilize them & make our Nation hunger free? No wonder the western countries r imposing their devilish cultures on us because they know we can’t do anything for ourselves. There’s plenty of idle potential Agricultural land in Chikhwawa, Dwangwa, Nkhotakota & other areas that if utilized, Malawi can be self reliant & will always have surplus food even for the next couple of years. Let’s not wait until the situation is critical then we start begging & God will never bless us with that syndrome. I believe Malawi isn’t poor it is us who are sick we need to innovative. My opinion

    4. Your thinking is sound & reasonable when it becomes to theory. But, its very expensive to put it on the ground to roll out. Water alone is nothing in irrigation farming. You have to consider the following factors: power as some areas are higher than the shire river itself, engineers for effective design capacity and machinery.

    5. Mr Nowa,I think and believe that maganizo a nzathuyu mwawamva bwino bwino ndithu ndipo nzoonadi kuti its very expensive to implement but he doesn’t mean that the project its for only a day.Kwa ine,all the past and current govt.leaders are the one to be blamed becoz they could had planned for it in 50years time chifukwa Lake Malawi ndi Shire River sikuti zabwera dzulo kapena ndi Peter Muthalika.

    6. Mr Nowa, u r very right it’s very expensive but this is not an individual program but Malawi as a nation. The reason why most Malawian businesses don’t progress it’s because we always want to invest today & realize the profits tomorw. I dnt think Malawi as a nation can struggle to invest in irrigation, instead of running the FISP & other programs that don’t seem to benefit our nation, the money can be diverted to irrigation farming. If we avoid expenses then believe u me, we will remain beggars for life & trust me we will never stand as a nation to oppose to any western devilish pressures. It’s high time we wake up & invest as Malawi. Mr Namponya, Jimmie Jie, Mr Redson, Emmanuel & Mr Nowa thanks for supporting my opinion. Let’s be positive people with positive & long term plans that wil benefit even the next couple generations.

    7. Mr Nowa, u r very right it’s very expensive but this is not an individual program but Malawi as a nation. The reason why most Malawian businesses don’t progress it’s because we always want to invest today & realize the profits tomorw. I dnt think Malawi as a nation can struggle to invest in irrigation, instead of running the FISP & other programs that don’t seem to benefit our nation, the money can be diverted to irrigation farming. If we avoid expenses then believe u me, we will remain beggars for life & trust me we will never stand as a nation to oppose to any western devilish pressures. It’s high time we wake up & invest as Malawi. Mr Namponya, Jimmie Jie, Mr Redson, Emmanuel & Mr Nowa thanks for supporting my opinion. Let’s be positive people with positive & long term plans that wil benefit even the next couple generations.

    8. Rodrick,ndakumvetsetsan, U Hve Talked Of Some Rivers & Evin Dams! Sme R Cheaper In Our These Ngo Dd Gravetational Irrigation 4rom Acertain Dam Upto 3.7hcrs Within 1yr. Its My Hpe That There R Dams Remain Idle. Nw Fellow Malawians,think Of Our Politics. If They R Failing To Complete Project Yamalawi Yomwe Mzawo Anayiyamba Powopa Kutchukisa Mzawoyo Angakwanise Project Ya 20yrs? Of It Ndimsewu Wadowa- Chedzi 4rm 2008 Up To Now Half Cwunafike Aroad Of 32km. Mmalo Momaliza ndi kukayamba Wina Kukasia Bwezi Ziribwino. Kt Mufufuze Wudayambidwa Ndi Manfesto Ya U D F Thru Machina Othamangisidwaja. Kma Yamadziyi Apart 4rm Hunger Reduction, Permanent Employment Will Be There. Jst To Add On Ur Opinion Bwana.

  100. Ana a njok inu lekani kukamba za hunger… God knows what he is doing… Can’t u see that u r not gaining anything when u insult the president….

  101. Mulungu amapereka madalitso kwaolungama ndi ochimwa mwachitsanzo moyo chakudya mvula dzuwa tiyeni tivomereze kuti nyengo yasintha ngati pali njira zina zothandiza tiyeni tizigwiritse nthito kaya ndikupemphera tiyeni tipemphere mumbuyomo azipembezo komanso ofuna chilungamo amkaphedwa ndiatsogoleri andale ndalama zakhala zikubedwa koma mvula imakhalapo.

  102. Abale tiyeni tizinyoza pamene zalakwika ,mulungu amamvera aliyense ,munthawi yake yakuikika,palibe amene amapanga mvula koma Mbuye Wathu wakumwamba,inunso panokha mukhale nalo pemphero, tisalozane zala inuyo mumapanga zingati zomuchimwira mulungu koma stil mo mumalandilabe zisomo zochokera kwa iye namalenga

  111. this president. ndi nkhumba yachabe chabe. bwanji sakupemphamvula kwa Obama. lero nde wamfuna mulungu waiwala kuti akuphwanya malamulo ake povomera kuti tizikwatilana amuna kapena akazi okha okha? Ediot.

  113. Palibe akuvomereza za ma gays takhala tikunena kuti maufulu samabwere bwino ambiri mumati olo kutukwana ndiufulu mukamamutukwana pitslayu koma zamvulazi its about climate change.

  116. alekelanji kutilanga ngat tkupanga mnkhalidwe osayenela mukuzitenga kut ine ndye anzeru pofuna kt amuna/akaz azikwatilana okha okha…mudzafa imva yowawa anthu amene mukuvomera zimenezi

  119. A Malawi njala sinabwele ndi peter, ndipo si ili kumalawi kokha, kumozambiki kuno kuli njala ya dzaoneni, mvula simakhala kunyumba ya president, kumeneko ndikulakhula mwa uve, mulungu amalanga athu akapanda kumu

    1. Ife kunokumalawi tikudziwa kut njala njala yabwera ndi Peter iwe ulikumozambiqueko ungayankhulebwanjizakuno ngatiumaziziwa? Kumalawikuno sizinachitikepo zimene zikuchitikapanozi,talk about about mozambiki coz u r there no Malawi

    2. Prince Vs Nyembezi uli ndivuto iwe ukundiuza kuti 1949 njala inalipo ija agogo ako sanakuuze,nanga cha mma 2000 -2001 njala ija sunaiziwenso nkhani imeneyi nanga president analinso Peter,kukhala kumozambique munthu sikuti sangaziwe what’s going in his country wamva uli ndivutotu iwe if your in Malawi momwemo mudziko lako koma osaziwa komwe wadusa Malawi ndipo I can tell you now Mozambique,Zimbabwe,south Africa and Botswana mvula kulibe is that Peter also a president wa maiko amenewa,chonde musamakambe zomwe majority ikunena musanaone nokha muzipanga ngati mukuziwa mwamva achimwene,now zinthu zavuta zavuta tisatosane zala ngati mungapemphe inuyo kwa chauta kuti atithandize ndi mvula I blv siyingangwe kwanu kokha komanso ngati mungakhale osakapemphera naye Peter yo monga mwapempho lake sikuti mvula igwa kunyumba kwake kokha ai

    3. Mulungu wakwia anatenga udindo omwe sunali wake,,mesa mumkati chimanga mwavotera,,mulungu wafuna kukuuzani kuti chipanga mmavitera chinja amakupasani ndi yeyo nt dpp,,ndiye akufadi tb Joshua wanenatu azilapilatu ,,

    2. Buluzi wa chiwiri ndiwe,mvula yavuta kulikonse,am in SouthAfrica bt there’s no rain,is it Peter who is rulling here in South africa?? Ask Zimbabwe there’s no rain bt most of people there still respect thier president Mugabe,wht kind of u ppo in Malawi?? Leave Peter guys,only will sove this hunger….

    3. inuso anthu osawelengeka inu,mkukamba zamayiko eeni am talking of Malawi here asshole.RSA?sikulemphela kumeko kukapanikiza dziko la eni ubuluzi ndiumenewo nanga.RSA z not happy with shalow minded people like u dude.

    5. Olephera ndiwe ndipo nzeru ulibe ukamakamba za chilala ku malawi mkumatukwana president,,Dziko lapansi kulikonse kumakhala obwera,sizitanthawuza kuti iwo ndi olephera ati,kodi amwenye ndi ma china ali kumalawiwo tinene kuti ndiwolephera kumayiko awo?? Ndimawona ngati ukamba zanzeru iwedi ndi mbuzi basi,demeti!!!!

    6. ndiye ndiumbuzi wanuwo Ku RSA mkutani kupatula kuola manyi agalu,mwazipanga compare ndi amwenye inuyo.Msamvutike bwelani ku Malawi.Mayendedwe omvuta kunkhala momvutika,nkhalani ndimanyazi nanga.u hve ventured in ma area dude kiss ma ass u idiot.Azanu we make money here osati umbuli kukavutika nawo mayiko aeni.I visit RSA when the company sends not kuvutika kwanuko madala.

  123. Mumuuze #PITALA kuti akapemphe mvula kwa Mulungu wawo yemwe anawaloreza kuti dziko la Malawi lidzikwatilana amuna kapena akazi okhaokha

  126. We’ve to fight against hunger by getting rid of corrupt leader’s & with GOD help we’ll succeed in no time, trust you me

  130. When we harvest we forgot to praise the almighty instead we praise our politicians. Mpaka kuwapatsa ma tittle okuti nthetsa njala. Only God can end hunger period.

  131. FROM TANZANIA; GOd Hears what you need to pray but in Faith every thing is possible but without faith is like to play. I know God can save Malawi from hunger, but only to pray withouth discussing how to be saved does not pay; you need as a whole Country to pray to God. May i join with you in this Ten Days of my prayers for your country? welcome also at the church of SDA every day for praying as we started since January 6, to 16 January.

  137. Eleson Bakili Muluzi told Malawians that there is no future in farming instead Malawians should embark into vending.

    Elson Bakili Wakuba Yemweyo is the one who messed up Malawi, instead of developing Malawi he started stealing and corruption. Bakili should just be sent to jail for destroying our country , let him pay for his sins the Malawi population is suffering because of the poor start of democracy by Eleson Bakili Muluzi Wakuba Yemweyo.

  138. You have a point in your article but one thing you have done is dishonor the name of God as you write. These things would one day humble you for you are attributing human failure as if they were God’s failures. Watch out one day you will know that Jehovah is God when you will place his anger. Don’t do that again.

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