By George Mponda, MANA
As the country is gearing up for the forthcoming presidential election on July 2, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in Dedza has urged church leaders in the district to be non partisan in politics.
Speaking during an interface meeting between traditional, religious, political party leaders and local government structures in Dedza, programs officer for Dedza Diocese, Horace Kasudze said churches should help in preparation for the forthcoming election.
Kasudze said: “The church needs to take a non partisan role in these elections by not endorsing candidates because their congregations consist of people of different political affiliations.”
“If the church becomes a spokesperson for a political party it serves the agenda of a party hence alienating some of the members of their congregation who are members of another party or yet apolitical,” he added.
Speaking in a separate interview, Reverend Dennis Phiri of the CCAP Nkhoma Synod said the church has a big role to play in sensitizing their congregations to go out and vote on the polling day because it is their duty as Malawians to do so.
“It is inappropriate for church leaders to endorse candidates but instead we should only enlighten them to vote for leaders who are God fearing and have the right moral conduct because it is such leaders who can help us flourish in our country,” Phiri said.
CCJP has been conducting these interface meetings with funding from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) with an aim to ensure a free, fair and transparent election.
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