By Paschal Norbert
LILONGWE, MARCH 1, 2024 (CISA) – In light of the strongly worded pastoral letter accusing President Lazarus Chakwera of poor leadership and sinking Malawi during his four years in office, the Catholic bishops are calling on the citizens to prepare well for the 2025 elections for the posterity and future of their lives and nation.
“God requires our cooperation in order to assist us get out of the mess we are in. One way of cooperating with Him is to actively participate in the forthcoming elections. As much as our leaders are responsible for the many problems we face as a country, we the citizens, the voters, are also responsible for these problems by choosing leaders who are not able to govern the country properly,” the bishops said.
In the 16-page pastoral letter titled “The Sad Story of Malawi,” which was read out in Catholic churches across the country, the bishops accuse the Tonse Alliance administration of multiple failures, including unfulfilled campaign promises, nepotism, and rampant corruption.
In their suggested roadmap to the 2025 elections, the bishops remind the people that no one should be indifferent to the politics of their nation as it concerns the quality of their lives, well-being, careers, freedom and future.
“Politics needs sound foundations, legitimacy and an ethical framework to be humane and useful…It is important that everyone exercises their right to vote so that those elected are truly representatives of the people,” the bishops state.
The Malawian Catholic prelates are particularly reaching out to young people to abandon their comfort zones and exercise their right to vote as the outcome of the elections will directly determine their future.
“In the lead-up to the elections, every Malawian is called upon to be a good citizen by avoiding violence and destructive behaviour,” they say, warning that “the media, money, power and government/party machinery can be used by politicians in devious ways to secure votes.”
The bishops also maintain that the current ills and challenges facing the country are due to the people’s misgivings in electing unworthy individuals to lead the country. However, they admit that all is not lost and they should not believe Malawi is a ‘doomed nation’.
They offer hope by saying “God does not forsake His children. We too, as time drags on, need to hold onto the belief that God has not abandoned us. Our faith in the merciful God should help us maintain our stamina in the decades to come as we limp towards prosperity.”
