Bishop decries economic pain
Mangochi Catholic Diocese Bishop Montfort Stima has decried the pain caused by the 44 percent kwacha devaluation and blamed the economic malaise hitting hard the poor on corruption and lack of patriotism across the board.
In a pastoral statement dated December 8 2023, he noted that instead of having the common course of fighting corruption, the country has normalised the vice that drains public resources meant to improve the plight of the common Malawians.
Stima also also blamed the country’s education system for promoting white-collar jobs, adding that laxity by political executives is also among the factors contributing to economic collapse.
He stressed the need for every Malawian citizen to take part in the economic development activities.
Reads the statement in part: “Priests and other pastoral leaders have not used their position of influence in the society successfully to civic educate people on integral social development.
“Besides, some priests and, religious brothers and sisters have not led by example themselves for many seem to belong to consuming side of economy other than promoting all dimensions of the economic equation.”
Stima has recommended training of local Christians to be productive in their own small ways such as practising livestock farming, gardening and engaging in modern ways of agriculture.
He said: “I would like to urge you all my dear brothers and sisters in the diocese of Mangochi to teach the people in our small Christian communities, church, parish and diocesan pastoral councils the truth about economy and its social implications by explaining both socio-political and socio-economic factors leading to devaluation of local currencies, and a need for joint efforts to return to the economic normalcy.”
The bishop’s sentiments come after the Public Affairs Committee (PAC), a quasi-religious rights watchdog, also spoke out on the impact of the 44 percent kwacha devaluation by asking President Lazarus Chakwera to be decisive and sensitive in finding solutions to ease the suffering of Malawians who feel hopeless and perceive the governing Tonse Alliance as clueless.
In a statement released on November 28 after meeting the President at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, PAC chairperson Monsignor Patrick Thawale said Chakwera’s indecisiveness and slowness to act on crucial issues “remains a great enemy” to his leadership legacy.
He mentioned the Chakwera administration’s penchant for domestic borrowing for consumption and international trips as well as Cabinet and the civil service size including “the unwarranted numbers” in the embassies as contributing factors to the current economic malaise in the country.
On corruption, PAC said it has noted selective justice and that some old cases are not being pursued, a development that creates an impression that new cases had become more important than previous ones.
Reserve Bank of Malawi on November 9 effected a 44 percent kwacha devaluation that sent shock waves to the economy with consumers bearing the brunt as prices of goods and services skyrocketed.
Following the devaluation, Chakwera unveiled a tranche of austerity measures which include freezing all international travel and cutting by 50 percent top public officers’ fuel entitlements to counter the economic slump.
