Social injustices among Christians worry APM

President Peter Mutharika has expressed concern over increasing cases of social injustices taking place in the country particularly among the Christian communities.

Speaking yesterday at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre during an audience with members of the Church of Central Africa Presbytery (CCAP) General Assembly, Mutharika condemned what he described as strange criminal traits happening in churches.

The President said it pains him to witness such behaviours and wondered where Christians have thrown God’s commandments and the love of Jesus Christ.

He said: “Killing people with albinism, mob justice, human trafficking, hate for each other, finger pointing and blame game, where are God’s commandments? Where is the love that the Risen Christ left us with.”

But speaking in an interview after the closed-door meeting with the President, CCAP General Assembly moderator Timothy Nyasulu said it was unfortunate the church had not formally denounced such injustices but the church always condemns them during homilies.

He said: “As the church, we always play a prophetic role and condemn the social injustices. But we are also in support of government’s efforts in dealing with them.”

The moderator said much as Malawi was passing through several challenges because of the economic situation, the church does not condone social injustices.

But when asked to comment on their discussions which were held in camera, Nyasulu said: “What we discussed has been kept confidential and private so we don’t have any issue to share with the media.”

The moderator, who is based at CCAP Livingstonia Synod in Mzuzu, said the meeting with Mutharika was basically to introduce themselves and congratulate him for ascending to the presidency.

The CCAP General Assembly started in 1924 and comprises the church’s five synods of Blantyre, Nkhoma, Livingstonia, Lusaka and Harare which are found in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa.