Chewa people force pastor to apologise

The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) of the Nkhoma Synod was on Thursday forced to apologise to the Chewa tribe for demeaning gule wamkulu.

Chewa Heritage Foundation, supported by several Chewa chiefs, asked the synod to apologise over a sermon by one of its ministers the Reverend Yasin Gama.

In his sermon at Mvama Parish in Lilongwe on Sunday, which went viral on social media, Gama called gulewamkulu “an evil tradition”, and this angered the Chewa people who vowed to initiate the Presbeterian preacher before Chewa chiefs and Lilongwe district commissioner Lawford Palani intervened.

Gama in his sermon said: “God loves everyone to the extent that He sends rain even to the evil ones like gulewamkulu in the Chewa territory.”

Palani convened a reconciliation meeting between the two parties where Nkhoma Synod general secretary Vasco Kachipapa apologised unconditionally.

He said: “As a church, we join the Reverend Gama in apologising to the Chewa people for the example he used in his sermon, the example was insulting and demeaning to the Chewa culture.”

But Lilongwe Chiefs Forum chairperson Senior Chief Kalumbu said the chiefs and Chewa people accepted the apology but demanded that the Reverend Gama should pay three goats as a fine.

Chewa chiefs coordinator for Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, Senior Chief Lukwa, said Chewa people are peaceful; hence, the church should desist from using divisive words when preaching.

An organisation called Freedom of Worship Association Movement on Wednesday issued a statement condemning the remarks which it described as intolerant to the freedom of worship and religious diversity that exists in the country.

However, a private practice lawyer, Bright Theu, posting on his Facebook page said what was said at the pulpit cannot be subjected to censure.

“In our Constitution, and in all civilised nations, what is said at the pulpit in the synagogue or religion [church], like what is said within the synagogue of learning [lecture room] cannot be subjected of censure either by the State or a gang that does not find it pleasant,”

He said neither personal offence, nor group offence is a legitimate gag on expression of religious belief or knowledge.

“And I don’t think ‘gule’ should be entitled to any exception. Otherwise, what if some people find ‘gule’ itself detestable and offensive. What then shall we do? Summon ‘gule’ and censure it not be practised?”

The chiefs, who accompanied Chefo leaders to the meeting, included senior chiefs Lukwa, Tsabango, Masumbankhunda, Kalumbu, Chitukula and Dzoole.