MP asks MAM for Islamic University

When various Muslim groups in Mangochi met last Sunday to, among other things, appraise each other on recent developments in the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM), one of their flock said it was time they had an Islamic university.

Member of Parliament for Mangochi East, Abubakar M’baya, who was among the delegates to the stakeholders’ meeting made the call for the university when he asked MAM chairperson Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad to interact with 19 Muslim parliamentarians during the sitting of Parliament which starts this week.

“There is need for you to familiarise with all Islamic MPs and hear their challenges; talk to them during the caucus that we will organise. We also need to have registration of all our members in the districts. We are in need of an Islamic university,” said M’baya.

Muhammad, who has led MAM since 2011, said he was ready to interact with the Muslim MPs. He said it was time for the Muslim MPs to work together, regardless of political affiliation.

He also said plans were in the pipeline to establish a university, saying everything will start rolling after MAM elections slated for the first-half of this year.

Meeting at Pankambiri Lodge at the Boma were Muslim members of the business community, chiefs, sheikhs, legislators, council officials, Muslims Women Organisation, Muslim Women Association and the district’s MAM committee.

One of the organisers of the meeting said they wanted to appraise each other on developments in the association has made in the past three years.

Most delegates said they had been impressed by, among other things, how MAM had handled issues such as growth in Muslim faith and participation in other spheres of life, including sourcing and distribution of relief food to the need.

One of the delegates, Cassim Kasinde, hailed the decision by MAM chairperson to send Sheikh Dinala Chabulika to evangelise in the North, saying the initiative is winning many souls. He cited other achievements as construction of mosques and building of school blocks in various districts.

On his part, Mufti Abbas Cassim said: “Our sheikhs now can be recognised unlike in the past. We can see new mosques being built, old ones being renovated and MAM charity reaching out to many, regardless of religious affiliation.”

Muhammad assured the delegates continued support.

“We have been promised many projects, including irrigation farming, as one of the solutions to hunger that has been striking us,” he said.

In a separate interview, MAM general secretary, Sheikh Twaibu Lawe, disclosed that MAM will hold district, regional and national elections between April and June this year.

“This is just a tentative electoral programme. The official one will be communicated to interested parties in due course,” said Lawe. n