With just over two months before the country goes to polls, the Roman Catholic church says the May 19 general elections should provide Malawians with an opportunity to elect a visionary and democratic government that will respect the will of people and avoid putting in power leaders only interested in enriching themselves.In a booklet titled “Choose life, preparing for 2009 elections during Lent” read in all the Catholic churches nationwide throughout the Lenten season, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in collaboration with the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) observes that at the moment, the country needs a humble and listening government willing to work with all Malawians despite political differences.
ECM secretary general Fr. Rev. George Buleya in the preamble says the messages in the booklet are coming from previous pastoral letters released during Lent and have been endorsed by the Bishops and inspired by plenary session of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (Amecea) in which ECM advocates for a prophetic, vigilant and intrusive Catholic church in issues of reconciliation, justice and peace.
The church observes that although Malawians voted for multiparty and reviewed the constitution, in recent years, “we have sadly tolerated bad leadership and tendencies to take root such as self enriching leaders, mismanagement of economy, declining of education standards, immorality, the use of abusive language in public, careless privatisation of government companies, irresponsible behaviour in Parliament, corruption and bribery, injustice and savagery and murder.
“This year’s vote should be aimed at uprooting evil in our society,” it reads.
The booklet poses several questions to the faithful: How do we differentiate between a leader who wants to improve the earth from the one who simply wants to be a leader but has no concern for the people? What new things shall the leaders we shall vote into office bring? What will the leaders do to improve on matters of economy, employment, education, culture, development, conservation of environment and other issues?
Says the church: “What should we do not to elect deceitful people, those who turn Parliament and our country into a source of income and enrich themselves; those who use others to put them in positions, get into power, respect and glory but do not think about those who voted for them?
Among other qualities of good leaders to elect on May 19, the church advises the congregation to look for accountable, democratic, God-fearing, visionary and exemplary leaders.
The church observes that people should elect leaders who are exemplary morally, socially and spiritually; who must lead by good examples in words and deeds and should be people of unquestionable character and personality.
It adds: “Leaders must be keen to work with others and to promote them, to create opportunities for others, to mobilise the talents and resources of their people, to allow them to participate and contribute to national development. Genuine democratic leaders will often consult and listen to others, will properly delegate, share power, make corporate decisions and give credit where it belongs,” adds the church.
“Democratic leaders favour democracy within their own parties as well as in the governing of the country. They also favour the emergence of young and new leadership. We need leaders who are able to rise above the limited particular interest of their political party and think of the whole nation,” reads the booklet.
The church observes that the country is lacking leaders who want the best for the whole country even when they are supposed to disagree in some way with the wishes of their political parties. It says the country is lacking leaders who are not going to sack people just for speaking their mind against those in positions of power.
Fr Buleya confirmed on Friday that the Bishops endorsed the production which he said is aiming at getting people involved in discussions of social issues affecting their lives so that they make informed decisions when casting votes on May 19. He also said the document would inspire the Catholic clergy to spread the word of God over Lent.
“The Bishops don’t have to produce a pastoral letter during every Lent period. But as you have read in the document, the Bishops thought that there are other areas of engaging people to make informed decisions. Primarily the document is targeting Catholics but not limited [to them] as the wider community can also use it as a source for discussion on social issues affecting them,” he said.
Buleya said the church would like people during Lent to pray hard and reflect critically so that the conversion and prayer manage to transform the whole nation.
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