Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lilongwe (Fides Service)- “Yesterday 23 October we celebrated World Mission Sunday and collections in every parish will be sent directly to the Pope to help the universal Church ” said a Catholic missionary in famine stricken Malawi. “The collection in a tiny church in Ammonitsute, was four plates of mango fruits, which would have been the day’s ration. That was all they had to offer, not even a grain of wheat” the missionary said adding that “ even in the face of disaster, politicians fail to face up to the national situation”.
Debate in parliament focuses on proceedings for the impeachment of President Bingu wa Mutharika, accused of assigning state funds to his political party. Several political observers say the anti-corruption campaign launched by the president created malcontent in areas of the political class which then promoted impeachment proceedings.
“Malawi’s supreme court called for a suspension of the proceedings being debated and also of the debate. The same request was made by the PAC, Public Affairs Committee, comprising all the Churches in Malawi and Muslim leaders. PAC chairman Fr Tamani accused Parliament of unconstitutional procedure and through a lawyer called for court intervention” the missionary recalled. “Not the slightest attention is given to appeals from people in the grip of famine all over the country to forget about the initiative to suspend the President and tackle the real problems facing the people”.
“It is sad to see that no attention is paid either to international community warnings that no donor country will help Malawi if it falls into chaos,” the missionary said. “For a few months now after three years of interruption of loans to Malawi, due to corruption in the previous government, the International Monetary Fund has been present with an aid programme. But in the present situation the IMF could cancel its promised aid”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 24/10/2005 righe 31 parole 375)
