Political, economic woes on Adccom agenda

The Association of Diocesan Catholic Clergy of Malawi (Adccom) will from April 9-13 hold this year’s annual plenary meeting at Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji.

The meeting comes at the time Malawi is experiencing a myriad of problems ranging from fuel and forex shortages, soaring prices of basic commodities to political instability.

Adccom chairperson Father Dominic Kazingatchire confirmed the meeting in a questionnaire response on Tuesday, saying bishops and diocesan priests from all the Catholic dioceses of Malawi are expected to attend.

Kazingatchire said the meeting, whose theme is ‘Priests as Agents of Hope: Sharpening our Christian Witness as Pastors’, will tackle pertinent issues and problems people are experiencing in the country.

“Let me make it clear that it is not a political gathering, but purely a religious one. As Catholic priests, we work on principles and we try as much as possible to be non-partisan,” said Kazingatchire.

He added: “Social, economic and political issues have been the concern of the people of God from the biblical times, since the joys and cries of the State are also concerns of the Church. Truly, the Church cannot stand aloof to the problems being faced by her people since both the Church and the State draw members from the same society. Therefore, our plenary will remain a good teacher to both the citizens and our political leaders.”

Adccom is one of the influential bodies in the Catholic Church in the country.

In 2002, the body warned the then president Bakili Muluzi against third term when the United Democratic Front (UDF)-led government wanted to amend the Constitution to allow him to run for the third term.

Last year, Adccom spoke against President Bingu wa Mutharika’s verbal attack on Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) head Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza of Mzuzu Diocese.