Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod emeritus general secretary the Very Reverend Silas Ncozana has asked the clergy to desist from partisan politics to avoid dividing the flock.
Delivering a keynote address at the opening of the synod’s 35th biennial conference as the guest of honour, the cleric said it was unfortunate that some church ministers have used the pulpit to make public statements in support of certain political parties.
Ncozana, who retired in 1995 before going into teaching at various universities, said supporting political parties in church was dangerous because it would bring chaos since the synod has members affiliated to different parties.
He said: “The people who are called to be leaders in the church, particularly those who are ordained, they are ordained to lead the society which is a mixture of people who are in different political parties.
“So, we should not influence them to like one party against the other. We should not influence our Christians to choose a certain political party.”
Ncozana’s sentiments come at a time some members of the clergy appear to be taking partisan stands ahead of the September 16 2025 General Election.
In an interview on the sidelines of the conference, CCAP Blantyre Synod general secretary the Reverend Anderson Juma said Ncozana’s call was timely as 22 days remain before Malawians go to the polls.
He said it is a well-known norm in the synod that all ministers and church elders holding positions are not supposed to engage in active politics.
“They [church ministers and elders] are always advised that if they feel like being called to join politics, it is better that they relinquish their positions at church [or] in their ministerial duties so that they focus on politics. So this advice has come at a right time,” said Juma.
In May this year, Malawi Council of Churches board chairperson the Reverend Billy Gama, a former Blantyre Synod general secretary, urged religious leaders to avoid imposing political parties or candidates on their congregants as the country prepares for the September 16 General Election.
The CCAP General Assembly, a grouping of the church’s five synods in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, last month highlighted the need for voters to choose leaders who are serious about keeping campaign promises and resolving the country’s economic challenges.
Meanwhile, delegates have elected the Reverend Reynold Mangisa as moderator with 269 votes against 103 for hitherto incumbent the Reverend Humphreys Zgambo. On the other hand, Namaka CCAP moderator the Reverend Missy Kananji Spiki amassed 239 votes against 125 for incumbent the Reverend Anne Kapinda to win the position of vice-moderator and the Reverend Jimmy Banda is the new deputy general secretary after outclassing incumbent the Reverend Baxton Maulidi by 210 votes against 176.
The conference is being held under the theme ‘Be doers of the word in love, not listeners only’ adopted from James 1 verse 22.
