The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) intends to hold prayers in all its archdioceses and dioceses of the Catholic Church in Malawi for peace, unity and reconciliation in the country.
The prayers follow acts of violence that have been the order of the day after the May 21 tripartite elections.
ECM Secretary General, Rev Father Henry Saindi, said the prayers would be held on October 19 2019.
“As Catholics, we believe in the power of prayer. We are aware that human efforts can fail but God does not fail. It is against this background that the Episcopal Conference of Malawi has decided to hold nationwide prayers in all dioceses of the Catholic Church to seek God’s intervention. During these prayers, we shall ask God to unite our country, to bring about real and everlasting peace and reconciliation. Nothing is impossible with God,” he said.
Saindi said the forthcoming prayers do not stop other bodies such as Public Affairs Committee (Pac)—to which ECM is an affiliate—from calling for further prayers.
He said Catholic Bishops have been involved in initiatives to bring about unity, peace and reconciliation in the country.
“They have issued statements appealing for peace and calm. They have called for Catholics to pray for the nation in their individual capacity. They have called for dialogue among parties that hold differing views. And the ECM Chairman is leading the Pac mediation team to find solution to the current problems. So, it is not too late. The call for prayer has come at the right time,” Saindi said.
Social commentator, Reverend Amos Chuma, has since welcomed the initiative saying the country needs prayer more than never.
“Prayer is very vital in the life of a believer and as a country we are a God-fearing nation. The move by the Catholic Bishops is welcome,” he said.
Pac has been one of the leading groups spearheading dialogue among UTM, Malawi Congress Party, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to defuse the current political impasse.
Recently, the quasi-religious body engaged Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jane Ansah, where they among other issues, allegedly discussed calls for her resignation.
HRDC is holding demonstrations in the country aimed at forcing the Mec chairperson to step down.
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