‘Don’t ask God why Bingu died’

Deputy general secretary of Livingstonia Synod of the CCAP, Reverend Maurice Munthali, on Friday told Malawians to stop asking God why He allowed former president Bingu wa Mutharika to die because his death brought salvation to the country.

He was speaking at Comesa Hall in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre, during prayers held to celebrate the country’s 48th Independence Anniversary.

Munthali said Mutharika put the country on fire and had he not died, the country would have experienced war.

“Let us stop asking God why He allowed our president to die. To God, everything is perfect. God has saved us from the frying pan by having another president. We were in the wilderness. This is a miracle that we have all gathered here to pray to God. If he had not died, this country would have experienced war,” said Munthali amid echoes of Amen from the congregation.

He said there are no fuel queues, forex is available and that bilateral relations with UK are now normalised. These challenges characterised Mutharika’s administration.

Munthali then urged President Joyce Banda to be led by God if the country is to forge ahead.

Mutharika died of cardiac arrest on April 5 2012.

‘Don’t become another Jezebel’

In his sermon, Anglican Bishop James Tengatenga said Malawi, which has had four presidents, now is still grappling with development because the previous presidents were obsessed with power and later likened themselves to God who in turn brought them down disgracefully.

Tengatenga warned Banda not to be obsessed with power lest she becomes another “Jezebel”.

“The first president Dr Kamuzu Banda likened himself to God. He was called saviour. We said he took government by word just like God creating the world by word.

“Bakili regarded himself as the only person to be president for the country as was seen in the third and open term bids. Bingu became Mose wa lero. He forgot that all good things come from God. Will “Masteni” [Joyce Banda] emulate these examples? If she does not take care, she will become another Jezebel. The solution is to emulate Mary and Hanna who humbled themselves before God,” said Tengatenga.

‘I have taken heed of the advice’

The President told the clergy that she had taken heed of their advice.

“I would like to tell Bishop Tengatenga that Masteni amva [ I have taken heed of the advice]” she said.

Some of the officiating clergy present at the function were Archbishop Tarcisius Ziyaye of Blantyre Archdiocese, Bishop Thomas Msusa of Zomba Diocese, Reverend Vasco Kachipapa, moderator of Nkhoma CCAP Synod, Pastor Fraxon Kuyama, president of Seventh Day Adventist Malawi, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, president of Malawi Council of Churches, Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad, chairperson of Muslim Association of Malawi.

Banda asked the clergy to pray for her that she should recognise God’s voice as He speaks to her. She also asked them to pray for her that God gives her wisdom.

377 prisoners pardoned

As part of the celebrations, Banda has pardoned 377 prisoners. She said she rejected 11 applicants because they were convicted of defilement.

She also said in her written speech that the country will have tripartite elections.

“I want to affirm my commitment to constitutionalism and rule of law. In this regard, my government will liaise with Parliament so that the tripartite elections should take place in 2014.

“We, as a country, need to build necessary capacity and mobilise resources to ensure successful and credible elections in 2014,” said Banda.