Gama falls as Blantyre Synod replaces top brass
Erstwhile general secretary the Reverend Billy Gama emerged the major casualty on Monday as Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) ushered in new leadership during its 34th biennial meeting.
During elections managed by Malawi Electoral Commission in the St. Michael and All Angels Multi-purpose Hall in Blantyre, voters ushered into office new faces, replacing Gama, moderator the Reverend Edna Naveya and vice-moderator the Reverend Ernest Mpate.
In the race for synod general secretary, the Reverend Anderson Juma amassed 192 votes against 186 for Gama while the Reverend Paul Mawaya came third with 54 votes, the Reverend Takuze Chitsulo received 24 votes and the Reverend Bruno Chipewa came last with five votes.
The Reverend Humphreys Zgambo carted home 236 votes to oust Navaya who got 166 votes on the position of moderator while the Reverend Moses Chitawo came third with 57 votes.
On the position of vice-moderator, incumbent Mpate got 169 votes against 230 for his successor the Reverend Annie Kapinda while the Reverend Chimwemwe Mitengo finished third with 62 votes.
Speaking in an interview soon after the declaration of results, Juma said he was happy that God has entrusted him with another responsibility to manage the affairs of the church.
He said the new team will focus on the spiritual welfare of the church
“We want to see the church moving into a direction where Christians should go back home satisfied that God has been their help after attending church services,” said Juma.
He thanked Christians for praying for the success of the elections.
“I ask congregants to continue praying for us so that God should continue to guide us,” said Juma.
In his remarks, biennial meeting organising committee chairperson James Chuma said the five-day conference started on a good note.
“We have just witnessed one of the most peaceful, credible and well-organised elections the synod has conducted so far. We are happy as a committee and everyone is happy,” he said.
Unlike during previous biennial meetings where delegates had heated debates on the composition of the electoral college, on Monday the voting procedure was accepted without any objections.
The newly-elected moderator and vice-moderator will serve for a term of two years each, subject to re-election while the general secretary will serve a four-year term.
The first day of the meeting, which will run up to Thursday, was also attended by delegates from CCAP synods of Livingstonia and Nkhoma, Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Tanzania, Baptist Convention of Malawi and the CCAP General Assembly.
