MALAWI: Catholic Bishops Call for Peace, Calm and Unity Amidst Disputed Election Results
The Catholic Bishops in Malawi have expressed concern over the increasing unrest in the country following the May 21 tripartite elections, where the incumbent Prof. Author Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) were declared winner.
In their statement issued on Friday June 28, the Bishops strongly condemned violence in all its forms and manifestations that has continued to rock some parts of the country, saying that it is not only evil and unacceptable but also contrary to the freedom the Malawians fought for when they chose multiparty system of government in 1993.
“We invite all Catholics to a serious examination of conscience before the Lord on whether they have been instruments of unity and peace or division during this period of political tension and violence,” the statement said.
According to media reports, supporters of the opposition parties especially the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Transformation Movement (UTM) have been staging some demonstrations mostly in the central region of Malawi to express their dissatisfaction with the elections, in so doing giving room to some criminal minded people to vandalise property and insult members of other political parties.
The MCP and UTM are disputing the credibility of the management of the election results, claiming they were manipulated in favour of the incumbent. The leaders of the opposition parties have since gone to the courts to seek redress and are asking for nullification of the results.
The bishops in their appeal for peace, calm and unity asserted that Christians cannot boast of loving God while at the same time continue hating on each other.
“We call upon Catholics not to be used as instruments of violence against their brothers and sisters and spreading hate and false messages through social media.”
They further reiterated that in a democratic country such as Malawi, citizens either as individuals or as a group such as Civil Society Organizations have the right to hold peaceful demonstrations as enshrined in the Constitution and that when they do so, they must be accorded the protection they need by the Government arms responsible.
The Bishops pledge to continue praying for peace, unity and reconciliation in the country as citizens await court’s decision within the next two months.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
