By Burnett Munthali
The Church of God and Saints of Christ has voiced its deep concern over the arrest and detention of Pastor Moses Shumba and Mr. Stack Chimalizeni, who are currently being held at Lingadzi Police Station in Lilongwe. In a press release signed by Twink Jones Gadama on Saturday, 21 September 2024, the church expressed its belief that the arrest is politically motivated and called for the immediate and unconditional release of both individuals.
Despite the challenges they face, the church was relieved to confirm that Pastor Shumba is in good health. However, they strongly condemned the charges brought against him and Mr. Chimalizeni, which are reportedly related to cyber crimes. The church believes these charges are simply a pretext for silencing their critical voices and sees this as part of a broader trend of political intimidation.
The Church of God and Saints of Christ emphasized that as advocates for democracy and human rights, they stand firmly against any attempts to suppress free speech in Malawi. The church urged the government to respect the rights of all citizens to express their views freely, and condemned the use of legal instruments as a means of political persecution.
Meanwhile, several leaders of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), including Vice President for the South Joseph Mwanamveka, National Publicity Secretary Shadrick Namalomba, Chipiriro Npinganjira, and Yusuf Nthenda, visited Pastor Shumba at Lingadzi Police Station to show their support. The DPP leaders echoed the church’s concerns and condemned the government’s alleged attempt to silence opposition voices.
Firstly, the church is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Pastor Moses Shumba and Mr. Stack Chimalizeni, believing their detention is politically driven.
Secondly, the church urges the government to uphold the constitutional rights of all Malawians to express themselves freely without fear of intimidation or legal repercussions.
Thirdly, a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Pastor Shumba and Mr. Chimalizeni has been demanded, with the aim of ensuring justice and transparency.
The press release, signed by Twink Jones Gadama, spokesperson for Pastor Shumba and the Church of God and Saints of Christ, highlights the church’s commitment to standing up for human rights and democracy. As Malawi faces growing tensions between the government and its critics, this incident has raised serious concerns about the state of free speech and political freedoms in the country.
With pressure mounting from both the church and the opposition, the coming days will likely see increased scrutiny on the government’s actions and their approach to dissent. The church remains firm in its demand for justice and accountability, emphasizing that Malawi’s democracy must be protected from abuse of power.
