Prayers set tone for independence feast

Interdenominational prayers organised by the country’s clergy on Sunday set the tone for Malawi’s 51st Independence Anniversary Celebrations which reach their climax today at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

The prayers, held at the Chichiri International Conference Centre alias Comesa Hall in Blantyre, were conducted under the theme Building a Responsible Nation, Trusting in God for Economic Transformation and the leading scripture text came from Psalms 127 verse 1.

President Peter Mutharika, who alongside Vice-President Saulos Chilima attended the prayers, was tasked with the first reading from Genesis 41 verses 14 to 16 and 33 to 41 in the Holy Bible.

Also in attendance were Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president and leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera, former vice-president Khumbo Kachali, First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Esther Mcheka-Chilenje, Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa V, Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V, Police Inspector General Lexten Kachama and Blantyre City Council mayor Noel Chalamanda.

In his welcoming remarks, moderator of the service of worship Apostle Madalitso Mbewe, who is also president of the Calvary Family Church, said as Malawians have finished the first year of their second golden jubilee as an independent nation; it is in order to seek guidance from God to give them the transformation the country requires.

Delivering a sermon to the congregation, Archbishop Thomas Msusa of the Blantyre Archdiocese of the Catholic Church and chairperson of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, whose preaching dwelled on leaders and their helpers in reference Mutharika’s reading about Joseph and his master Pharaoh, also touched on issues of security breakdown, abductions and killings of persons with albinism albino as well as police killings that have shaken the country lately.

Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe, leader of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi, gave out a sermon in Chichewa which centred on those being led by various leaders in society, how people are self-centred and how freedoms and rights are being exercised without a sense of responsibility.

During the service of worship, K744 000 ($1 653) was raised in offerings to be donated to Bandawe School of the Hard Hearing in Nkhata Bay.