Our nation needs healing— Thomas Msusa
Archbishop of Blantyre Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, Thomas Msusa, has called on political party leaders in the country to advance peace in whatever they do and say, saying Malawi needs healing.
Msusa has also bemoaned what he calls increasing divisions along tribal lines and needless physical attacks which have left a police officer and one civilian dead in relation to unrest related to the outcome of the May 21 elections.
He was delivering a sermon at St Pius Parish during celebrations marking the Extraordinary Missionary Month which was announced by Pope Francis to mark the 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s apostolic letter ‘Maximum Illud’.
For the month, Catholics are called to live an extraordinary time of missionary activity.
“If our leaders are hearing me, they should think about Malawians first. Malawians are crying because there is so much chaos in the country.
“Whether it is three, four or five political party leaders, let them come together for the healing of our nation. They should hear the cry of Malawians,” Msusa said.
He also lamented that a lot is being said that is dividing Malawians and that the love that was once synonymous with the nation is no longer there.
“Five months [after the elections], the future still looks bleak. There is blood and smoke all over, yet the bible talks about all of us being one people… The national cake should be for everyone, not a particular group of people,” Msusa said.
He then called on the Catholic faithful and everyone else to pray for leaders so that they lead their various political parties and other entities with wisdom.
The theme for the month is ‘Baptised and sent’ which, according to Pope Francis, would help the church in its mission of spreading a “religious ideology” or a “lofty ethical teaching”.
Various other stakeholders including the United Nations, the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) and ambassadors and high commissioners have also called on parties at variance to come together so that peace returns in the country.
Malawi has been rocked by violence and an air of uncertainty after opposition Malawi Congress Party and UTM disputed the May 21 election and sought nullification from the court.
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition has also been organising demonstrations to force Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jane Ansah, to step down for apparently messing up the election.
Alick Ponje is a features writer at The Times Group. He graduated from the University of Malawi with a bachelor’s degree in education, majoring in literature in English. Follow him on Twitter @aponje
