Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) clerics have said they did nothing wrong to conduct prayers at former president Arthur Peter Mutharika’s Page House residence in Mangochi on Friday, February 21..
In interviews on Wednesday, Reverend Alex Maulana of Luchenza CCAP in Thyolo and Reverend Wyson Banda of Malosa CCAP in Zomba said the 71 church ministers who attended the prayers came from 17 of the church’s 20 presbyteries.
Said Banda: “We went to Page House to conduct prayers in our own capacities, not to endorse APM. If the prayers mean endorsement, then we can say yes. But we went there solely for prayers.”
On Saturday, synod moderator the Reverend Humphreys Zgambo and general secretary Anderson Juma in a statement said the pastors did not represent the synod and their statements were unfortunate.
However, in a circulating voice note which Banda confirmed as his, he said the synod did not meet to issue the statement as is the tradition when something perceived to be wrong happens.
On his part, Maulana said they prayed for Mutharika as a member of the church as well as for his political future ahead of the September 16 2025 General Election.
“The issue is being blown out because we visited an opposition politician. There would have not been any concerns if we conducted the same prayers at the State House,” said Maulana.
Both Banda and Maulana confirmed that the church has not summoned the concerned pastors to a meeting over the matter, but they stated their readiness to attend such a meeting or hearing if invited.
Asked yesterday if the pastors will be summoned, Blantyre Synod lawyer Bernard Ndau said his responsibility is to provide advice to the synod and he has done so.
Said Ndau: “I believe the synod management when next it meets will reflect on that advice and act accordingly. As to what the synod will do, the responsible person is the general secretary.”
But when contacted, Reverend Juma did not comment saying he is in Zambia together with Reverend Zgambo.
Mutharika’s spokesperson Shadric Namalomba did not pick up when contacted, but in a statement on Monday he said any interaction between political leaders and religious groups should be seen as part of democratic discourse.
In its statement on Saturday, the Blantyre Synod pledged to jealously guard against external forces that aim to antagonise both its ministers and Christians, especially as the general election fast-approaches.
