Politician salutes Catholic bishops

President of the New Vision Democracy Party (NVDP) Mustafa Shaibu has saluted Catholic bishops for remaining resolute, selfless and faithful in their struggle for social and economic emancipation of the poor.

Shaibu, who was speaking to Nation on Sunday on Thursday, said bishops deserve special honour for their commitment towards the fight for equal opportunities for all Malawians.

“Through the pastoral and Lenten letters the Catholic Church periodically releases, the bishops have been very firm in their call for social and economic justice. A clergy of such calibre and integrity is not easy to find, especially in this age where money easily exchanges hands when the rich want to oppress the poor,” he said.

But Shaibu took a swipe at fellow politicians for disregarding the advice of the clergy on social, economic and political issues, saying this is behind the country’s growing poverty.

He said the clergy are the mouthpiece for God, arguing that politicians have no justification for wishing them away.

Shaibu, who did not submit nomination forms to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), said Malawians will be in safe hands when he takes over the leadership of the country after the May 20 Tripartite Elections.

Asked how he would become president without going through the ballot, he said God had “sent me to redeem this country from bondage.”