MALAWI: Caritas Committed to Bringing Hope to the Needy

Thokozani Chapola

“The Catholic is committed to bringing hope in the lives of the needy through different programs as the church this year celebrates the jubilee year of hope,” says President of Caritas Africa, Monsignor Cibambo Pierre Ntakobajira who made the remarks when he witnessed the disbursement of financial support to 251 households from St. Francis of Assisi Chidzanja Parish in the Diocese of Mangochi, Malawi.

Speaking at the event which took place at the parish premises, Monsignor Cibambo said that he is satisfied with the projects being done by the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) such that it is changing lives of people. He indicated that it is his wish that such kind of assistance continues in the country as the Church strives for bringing hope to the hopeless in the jubilee year of hope.

“Being here in Mangochi witnessing this program of cash transfer to vulnerable communities, is of great importance for me. Am so grateful to witness this because it is now complete. As CADECOM they send me reports of their activities and I read them and understand but this has made me understand more and now I can speak concretely to those who are supporting this that yes, it is really helping,” he said.

In his remarks, bishop Montfort Stima of the Diocese of Mangochi said that despite that the assistance is not that adequate, he is hopeful that it will change a few things in people’s lives. He has since advised them to focus on crop diversification as one way of mitigating effects of climate change so that they should not only rely on nsima for food in their daily lives.

“Climate change has come because of us people who have destroyed nature. Therefore, I am encouraging them to restore the environment by planting more trees. I am also advising them that when we say food, we do not only mean nsima. We should learn to eat different foods such as cassava, potatoes, pumpkins and others and when we eat that, we should be satisfied that we have taken food. If we train ourselves in this, it will help us in times when we are hunger stricken as a nation,” said bishop Stima.

One of the beneficiaries, a 75-year-old Yonasi Adriano Kapindu has hailed CADECOM for the timely assistance saying that it will help in ending some of the challenges he has been facing at his household.

“We thank them wholeheartedly and we ask God to bless them abundantly. We faced persistent hunger since the harvesting period last year up to now and with this assistance, something will change in our lives,” he said.

CADECOM Malawi through a donation of 330 million Malawi Kwacha (approximately 200,000 US dollars) from the Scottish Government through the Scottish Catholic Aid Fund (SCIAF) has disbursed cash amounting to 100,000 Malawi Kwacha to each of the 907 households from the parishes of Chidzanja, Kapire, Ulongwe and Mbera in the Diocese of Mangochi.