APM urges clergy to support development agenda

Government has asked religious leaders to support its development programmes to make Malawi a progressive nation.

President Peter Mutharika made the call on Monday at Chikoko Bay in Mangochi when he held an audience with religious leaders from the Eastern Region.

He said the faith community can play a significant role in championing development programmes government is implementing through the masses they serve.

“Much as government is doing its part in fulfilling its obligations in providing for people in the area with various social amenities [such as] potable water and community technical colleges, religious leaders were supposed to provide spiritual and social guidance to their flock to realise meaningful development,” Mutharika said.

He encouraged the faith leaders to instil a sense of morality among people of different religious persuasions to respect those in authority, lamenting that the country was losing its moral direction, especially with the advent of social media where “nobody respects anyone else”.

On corruption, Mutharika said government is committed to fighting corruption as evidenced by recent developments where some officers and politicians are being probed and arrested on corruption-related cases.

Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Upper Shire, the Reverend Brighton Malasa, promised to pray for the country’s leadership and the government, noting that religious leaders and politicians work in partnership to develop the country