By Robert Mukhori
The head of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Blantyre, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa has condemned in strongest terms the acts of violence.
Msusa, himself a former Chairperson of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi made the condemnation during an Easter evening Resurrection Mass at the Archdiocese’s headquarters, Limbe Cathdral on Saturday.
In his sermon, Archbishop Msusa told the huge parked Cathedral that he is aware that many Malawians are anxious and worried as to what would be the outcome of next year’s General Elections following the recent acts of political barbarism and violence reported in some parts of the country.
Msusa said that the recent incidences are uncalled for in democratic Malawi and must not be given room anywhere within the borders of Malawi.
“Next year, we want political parties and candidates to be given freedom to campaign anywhere without any hindrances and boundaries,” he said.
“We don’t want people to be told you cannot campaign in the central region or in place A or B because you don’t come from there,” said the senior Catholic clerk.
“The recent incidences where people were hacked, injured and their vehicles damaged and torched is uncalled for and not acceptable in Malawi. This must stop,” emphasized Msusa.
He was apparently referring to the recent incidences in the central region district of Dowa and the capital Lilongwe where supporters for the main opposition DPP were severely beaten and their properties including vehicles damaged completely.
The partisan Malawi Police Service until now is failing to arrest the ruling MCP hooligans who unleashed these acts of terror although their names are well known.
Recently, Catholic Bishops in Malawi issued a strong Pastoral Letter that condemned the MCP administration leadership style and described the country’s development progress as a “Sad Story for Malawi”
In the letter, the Bishops further said that President Lazarus Chakwera has failed to take Malawi to the promised land, Cannan but ended up damping Malawins in a place of no hope called Bagamoyo.
The Easter Evening Mass was attended by several high profile personalities including former Minister of Finance and DPP legislator Joseph Mwanamvekha, DPP Phalombe South MP Mary Mpanga and MCP’s member of Parliament for Blantyre City East John Bande.
Also present during the Mass was Malawi Human Rights Commissioner Andrew Kavala.
The Blantyre Archdiocese comprises of Catholic parishes situated in Blantyre, Mwanza, Neno, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Phalombe and Mulanje districts.
Malawians will go to elections in September next year where it is widely expected that they are to boot out the less popular President Lazarus Chakwera and it’s violent Malawi Congress Party.
