MALAWI: National Poverty Worries Bishop of Karonga, Urges Catholic University Students to be Agents of Change

Luke Bisani

Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka has expressed worry over the increased level of poverty in Malawi and urged graduates from the Catholic University of Malawi to be agents of change for the betterment of the masses.

In his homily during the Eucharist Celebration for the 21st Congregation of the University held on 24th September 2022 at Montfort Campus in Nguludi-Chiradzulu district, the Bishop of Karonga Diocese said poverty is getting worse all the time in the country.

Bishop Mtumbuka while citing an example from the agriculture sector, disclosed that the country has not made strides in improving the livelihood of the masses in all the sectors hence calling for change.

“The level of poverty among the poor is getting worse all the time, we cannot continue like this” Bishop Mtumbuka expressed.

Rt Rev. Mtumbuka then urged students who graduated from the University during the 21st Congregation to change the country for the better with various skills they have acquired during the time of their studies.

“My appeal is that, after this graduation, you have to commit yourself to change Malawi and not just join the bandwagon that has failed this country by incompetence and cruelness and having no heart for the suffering masses” urged Rt. Rev. Mtumbuka.

The multidimensional Poverty Index report for Malawi by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) shows that 61.7% of Malawi’s population is multidimensionally poor.

The country is also reported to have high levels of corruption and abuse of public resources among government departments, and agencies just to list some.

Further reports review that the country lost around $723 million to fraud and corruption between 2004 to 2019.