Nkhoma Synod ‘endorses’ Chakwera

…Mutharika, Chilima, Atupele Muluzi are bad apples

The CCAP Nkhoma Synod has endorsed Malawi Congress Party presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera in the May presidential elections.

In a Pastoral Letter released today titled ‘An Opportunity to Choose a Leader with Good Reputation, Full of the Holy Spirit and Wisdom’, the church has suggested that Chakwera’s main challengers are bad apples.

The Nkhoma Synod has noted that presidential candidates – Atupele Muluzi of United Democratic Front (UDF) and Saulos Chilima of UTM – are members of cabinet in the corrupt Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration led by President Peter Mutharika hence it is ironic for the two to think they can do a better job than the incumbent if elected in the May elections.

“For the first time in the history of this nation, we have two serving members of the cabinet; the Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and the Minister of Health, all challenging the incumbent State President under whom they are currently serving with strong allegations that this government is corrupt.

“Others promising Malawian to give evidence of such but nothing has been given yet. This is a vote of no confidence in the regime’s leadership to which they are part of. Ironically they feel they can do a better job than the incumbent, yet they are part of the system and using state resources to campaign without conscious.”

The Church then urges its flock to vote for a leader who fears God, abhors corruption, respect the constitution of Malawi and promotes promote justice without fear or favour.

Nkhoma Synod has also called on its members to choose someone who will not defend thieves, mafias and terrorists; who will develop this nation without favouritism; who will not tolerate substandard workmanship in any infrastructure development and open unfinished projects; who will not promote abortion and same sex marriages and who will not reduce our respected Traditional Authorities to puppets.

In its letter, Nkhoma Synod has also condemned rampant corruption during the DPP administration saying the vice is being institutionalised at all levels in all ministries, departments and agencies without action from the leadership.

The Synod mentions various corruption cases including the food rations scandal, the K145 million sent to Mutharika’s accounts, the controversial sale of tractors and the stealing of 1.4 million litres of fuel at ESCOM.

On elections, the Synod has advised Malawians to refrain from political violence ahead of the polls and government to make sure perpetrators of such acts are prosecuted even when they belong to the ruling DPP.

“The cadets have consistently terrorised Malawians across the country with current event where they even used guns and pangas yet the police could not even bring them to book.

“The Clergy would like to put it on record that the DPP and indeed all political parties will be held accountable and responsible for any loss of lives or property due to political violence.

“Political parties and candidates should know that Malawians are not going to be intimidated, as political violence has no place in our nascent democracy,” reads part of the letter.

The church has also warned against election fraud saying the Malawi Electoral Commission should ensure that events of 2014 – where elections were considered by many electoral stakeholders to have been rigged as they were replete with election irregularities – should not be repeated.

In the letter, the Nkhoma Synod has lamented the heartless killings of people with albinism saying the government has failed to implement a national action plan aimed at curbing this vice and promoting the living standards of people living with albinism.

The letter which has been signed by Synod moderator Rev BCK Nkhoma and Senior Clerk Rev ADK Saka was read in churches under the CCAP Nkhoma Synod on Sunday.