By Taonga Sabola, Brenda Kayo, Tiyese Monjeza & Samuel Kalimira:
As Christians in Malawi join their counterparts around the world in celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, today, President Lazarus Chakwera has wished Malawians a Merry Christmas.
He has since urged them to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ.
In his Christmas message, Chakwera said surrendering their lives to Jesus is the best thing that can ever happen to Malawians.
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The Malawi leader noted that for some Malawians, this Christmas has found them healthy, employed, fed and surrounded by loved ones, “who bring you happiness and cheer” while for others “this Christmas comes at a time when they are sick, or unemployed, or hungry, or alone, or surrounded by difficult relationships”.
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He observed that while the circumstances in which this Christmas has found each Malawian may vary, the reason this Christmas has been given remains the same for all.
Chakwera said according to Isaiah 9:6, the reason God has given his son Jesus to people is so that he can be their ruler.
According to Chakwera, scriptures teach people that all the kingdoms and governments of this world will perish one day, but that God sent his son Jesus to build a new kingdom and a new government that will last forever—a kingdom and government of justice and righteousness.
“And according to Isaiah the prophet, every person whose life is ruled by God’s son is part of that eternal Kingdom and Government.
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“So my question to you this Christmas is not whether Christmas has found you healthy or sick, alone or together, full or empty, sad or happy, suffering or prospering. Instead, my question to you this Christmas is whether Jesus, the son whom God has given unto us, is the ruler of your life,” Chakwera said.
“If he is, then I encourage you to use this Christmas to show the love, justice and righteousness you have freely received from Jesus to those around you. But if he is not, then I invite you to make Jesus the ruler of your life today so that you can be part of his kingdom and government forever, to enjoy the joys of his kingdom long after the governments of this world have perished, long after death has claimed all of us, and long after there are no more Christmases for you to see,” he said.
Chakwera said what Malawians have to do is to surrender their lives to Jesus by asking Him to forgive them for all the years and all the ways they have been living in the kingdom of darkness and sin.
“Surrender your life to Jesus by asking him to include you in his kingdom of light and righteousness.
“Surrender your life to Jesus by asking him to be the ruler of your life, because Jesus is the only one who was born to die the death you deserve so that you can be born again to live the eternal life he offers,” Chakwera said.
He said even though he is the President, the Head of State, and the Head of Government for the Republic of Malawi, nothing he does, or has in this world, will ever compare in value to the precious gift that Jesus gave him while at Chancellor College [now University of Malawi] when he surrendered his life to Jesus and asked him to be the ruler of his life.
“I pray that you, too, will not miss out on this precious gift this Christmas. And I wish you a Merry Christmas,” Chakwera said.
Thursday, as people were preparing for Christmas, there were mixed fortunes around the country.
For example, some denominations, notably the Catholic Church, celebrated mass.
On the same day, some individuals, organisations and even First Lady Monica Chakwera were treating children, patients, the elderly, among others, to parties, with gifts also exchanging hands.
In cities such as Mzuzu, Blantyre and Zomba, the mood was, rather, subdued, with some residents bemoaning the high cost of leaving.
In the Northern Region, people were seen lining up at one filling station, which was spotted fueling vehicles in almost the entire city.
When The Daily Times crew visited filling stations, we found fuel attendants just chatting while others were listening to Christmas carols.
The only filling station which had fuel had long queues of vehicles and motorcycle taxi operators, who were also given a limit of fuel to buy.
In the afternoon, Mzuzu City was congested, with people buying food and goods in readiness for Christmas.
Cosman Longwe from Chigwere in Mzimba North, who bought five chickens, said Christmas comes once a year, such that nothing could stop his family from enjoying the moment.
“It’s true that money is a problem but that should not stop us from celebrating Christmas. At least celebrating it once a year is not a problem,” Longwe said.
However, Sparol Siyame from Zolozolo Township was found carrying dry utaka.
When we asked him what it was for, he said it was for Christmas.
Siyame said he could not manage to buy a chicken because, come January, he would be required to source fees for wards as well as purchase fertiliser for farm use.
“We discussed the issue with my wife and children. We reached a consensus that among Christmas, school fees and fertiliser, it would be more important to buy and eat utaka than spend the money on Christmas purchases. That way, we can keep money for school fees and fertiliser,” Siyame said.
Meanwhile, Livingstonia Synod of the CCAP Moderator Reverend Jailos Kamisa, in his Christmas message, has said Malawians should embrace unity if the country were to develop.
On his part, Reverend Jobawe Levison of Bwaila CCAP has urged Malawians to take their worries to God as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ today.
Speaking during a Christmas carols ceremony, Levison acknowledged that Malawians were facing difficult times.
“We know that many people are struggling with illness, imprisonment, hunger and other challenges but we must remember that God is our savior, such that He will see us through these difficult times,” Levison said.
Levison also reminded Malawians about the importance of showing kindness and compassion to those in need during the Christmas season.
“As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us not forget to reach out to those who are less fortunate. Let us show them love, kindness and generosity, just as God has shown us.” Levison said.
Christians are commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ today.
In Zomba City, some organisations organised parties for children.
One of the organisations, Youth for Development Productivity, treated children to a party and offered them gifts in Thundu area, where 820 children attended the event.
“We spent K2.8 million on food and other items because well-wishers from Norway and the Netherlands asked us to ensure that Zomba children are given something which would leave them with good memories of the festive season,” said the organisation’s programmes manager Joy Mwandama.
One of the parents, Grace Kalimba, urged the organisation to extend the gesture to more children.
“This is a good initiative considering that some families could not afford to spoil their children with gifts during this festive season,” Kalimba said.
At the event, children carted home packets of rice, bread and snacks.
Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) has since warned consumers to be extra careful when buying goods and services from the market during this Christmas and New year holidays to avoid unnecessary purchases and being cheated by unscrupulous traders who will use every means to sell products at inflated prices and use this period to sell defective products through various means such as promotions or any other form of advertisement.
Meanwhile, Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) Executive Director John Kapito has said traders will try to offer their non-salable items which could either be damaged and expired at cheaper prices which, unfortunately, will offer no economic benefits to consumers.
“Consumers must be aware that prices of basic goods and services have risen up by an average of 70 percent compared to last year’s prices. Currently, consumers are experiencing one of the highest costs of living as a result of the huge devaluation of the Kwacha and shortages of foreign exchange that have drastically depleted consumers spending power.
“It is, therefore, prudent and advisable for consumers to make careful planning before deciding to spend money during these holiday festivals,” Kapito said
