The Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) has lamented the ongoing hardships in the country which they believe need capable leaders to address.
The bishops, in their Pastoral Letter titled ‘Who will roll away the stone for us’, which was read out in Catholic churches nationwide just six months before the September 16 2025 General Election, urged voters to elect political leaders who embody the virtues of integrity, courage, and selflessness to solve the problems besetting Malawi.
The bishops cited corruption, political violence, high cost of living, food insecurity, unemployment, donor-aid dependency, poor road network and a growing tendency of handouts as some of the major challenges plaguing the country.
The letter, however, stated that the task of addressing the challenges cannot be left to government alone, saying every Malawian has a role to play in rolling away the stones that hinder the nation’s progress.
The bishops stayed clear of signalling any endorsements for particular candidates and warned its priests against using the church’s structures to push partisan agendas.
“As we present the following insights, we, your bishops, want to make it clear that we do not intend to endorse any political candidate or party.
“We order all our priests not to take sides or favour any candidate or political party. Any such action on the part of our priests using church structures for political purpose will not be tolerated,” reads the letter in part.
Among other issues, the bishops were worried that the youth, who are supposed to play a leading role in shaping Malawi’s future, have been captured by handouts and the spirit of beating up supporters of their rival parties just to sustain loyalty to leaders.
On corruption, the MCCB said some politicians amass immense wealth a few months after taking office, while long-serving civil servants struggle to build homes.
The bishops also urged politicians in power to own the country’s problems, saying the tendency of blaming others is uncalled for.
Reads the letter in part: “The common excuse politicians give is blaming previous regimes. The common person’s assumption, however, is that political leaders must have known all the problems in the country when they were campaigning for leadership positions and had clear plans on how to solve them once elected.”
The bishops are worried that since the dawn of democracy, Malawi has been in perpetual food insecurity.
“We are fixated on producing maize and little else. In the end, we encounter a perpetual lack of forex. Our forex will not fall from the sky; we have to work for it as a nation,” reads the letter.
The men of God also expressed frustrations with the worsening fragmentation of the nation into specific regions, tribes, religions and political affiliations.
Commenting on the pastoral letter, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Malawi (Unima) Boniface Dulani said while most of the issues the bishops have raised are common, they have this time tried to avoid showing support for a particular candidate.
He said: “I detect a sense of frustration on the part of bishops that the leadership has not really lived to people’s expectations. You see that they are not picking any stance, I think it is a realisation that if the church is to endorse someone, it would reflect badly if that person underperforms.
“They have outlined characteristics of a good leader, and voters would look at such a person, but we know our political leaders will claim to have such qualities, but do nothing when they get into power. But again, how do we hold responsible leaders who promise but fail to deliver?”
In the letter, the bishops have urged Malawians to elect a leader who is capable of making tough and brave decisions for a better future and not bury his or her head in the sand in the face of oncoming storms.
On his part, governance pundit George Chaima said: “Malawians want true political and economic freedom. Voters now have a chance to elect people who can help them as espoused by the bishops in terms of qualities.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu, who is also the official government spokesperson, said government appreciates the sentiments from the bishops.
He said: “We have noted the statement with appreciation both as part of the flock and as servants of the people.”
Malawi heads to the polls on September 16 2025, when people will elect a President, members of Parliament and ward councillors.
