By Staff Reporter
Malawi’s Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima has applauded the Catholic church for showcasing independence of the church by opening a bank. He said there is need for Malawians to encourage each other of the need for independence at national, church and individual level in the country.
Chilima was speaking at Maula Cathedral in Lilongwe on Saturday when he attended the Eucharistic celebration that was held to launch the Centenary Bank of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe.
He said for the church to be successful, it is important for it to be independent saying one way of doing this, is what Lilongwe Archdiocese has done by establishing Centenary Bank in Malawi.
“Today we are celebrating that the vision of the Archbishop George Desmond Tambala and all catholic members of the Lilongwe Archdiocese has come true.
“We have been dreaming to have the bank and here is the Centenary Bank therefore it is very important to support the bank by opening bank accounts at the Centenary Bank,” he said .
Chilima therefore, urged the board and management of the bank to motivate its employees so that the existing customers and those that will come in as additional customers help the bank to make more profits.
Speaking earlier, Archbishop George Desmond Tambala urged people to support the bank by opening bank accounts at the bank and encouraged parishes to utilise the bank by depositing church offerings.
He encouraged Christians to have a saving culture for them to be economically empowered.
Lilongwe Archdiocese is the first religious institution to own a bank in Malawi.
Currently, the bank has 14 branches and three microfinance outlets and is planning to open more in the future.
