Minister ‘answers’ prayer

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Grace Chiumia yesterday ‘responded’ to a prayer offered by CCAP Livingstonia Synod cleric the Reverend Maurice Munthali during the Independence Celebrations in Mzuzu.

In the prayer, Munthali lamented the lack of a sustainable development plan for the country’s successive leaders to adopt instead of coming up with new plans with every change of government.

Said the cleric: “One driver said Malawians should have food, shelter and clothing; another one came and said we should open the Mtwala Corridor and encourage smallscale business. Yet another driver promoted the Green Belt Initiative and Nsanje port then another came with one cow per family initiative. Now the current driver is promoting technical colleges and Cement and Malata Programme.”

Munthali wondered if all the initiatives are beneficial, adding that the country cannot develop with the current approach.

He said: “Where are we going as a country with all these programmes? Every leader takes this country where they want.”

Munthali also asked God to help the country’s leaders deal with the cancer of corruption and bribery and to be honest and trustworthy as well as exemplary leaders to all Malawians as they drive this country.

He said: “We know You [God] are saddened when You see our leaders being thieves, liars, corrupt and stubborn.”

Munthali then asked God to intervene in the poor housing for teachers and security personnel.

He also asked God to help the country’s national football team, the Flames, to return to winning ways.

Directly ‘responding’ to the prayer, Chiumia, who was the guest of honour, said government has budgeted to build 10 000 houses for the Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service.

She said: “Government is going to construct 10 000 houses for the security personnel in the country; hence, the prayer has been heard and answered.”

The minister also said President Peter Mutharika is promoting all developmental activities initiated by previous administrations, citing the Bingu National Stadium and Reserve Bank of Malawi Mzuzu Branch, among others.

“I would like to thank the church for the prayers, the prayers have been heard,” she said.

The minister also urged unity between the church and government instead of taking issues to the media. n