Churches blast govt’s handling of economy

Churches in Malawi have expressed concern over government’s response to the suffering Malawians are facing as the economy continues to plummet.

Reacting to the strike by civil servants who were demanding wage increase, chairperson of the Malawi Council of Churches, Reverend Alex Maulana, said Malawians have endured hardships arising from the weak economy for a long time.

“Government seems not to care about what the citizens of Malawi are going through and that is why these issues are not being dealt with in a serious manner. Malawians have been patient. Government needs to seriously look into these issues,” he said.

National secretary of Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) Chris Chisoni said government is not serious in dealing with the grievances that have driven civil servants to the streets.

“The people who generate revenues are the ones who are not working and government is turning a blind eye, which is not good. These are the people who deliver services and are the ones who are making the country run. It is sad that the situation is being left like this,” said Chisoni.

Reverend Andrew Maere of the CCAP Blantyre Synod said Malawi cannot afford to slip further into the economic dungeon as this could spell doom and disaster.

“You know, the economy is not well and all these strikes are pointing to that. If government does not deal with the situation, people will suffer and as a church we do not want that to happen.

“We have heard of MPs demanding more perks and being granted; why can’t government reason with these people [civil servants] so that a solution is found? What is wrong in doing that?” wondered Maere.

Since the devaluation and subsequent floatation of the kwacha, Malawians have had to dig deeper into their pockets to survive as the cost of living continues to rise.