Bishop Msusa rejects Madame Mutharika’s donation

Bishop Thomas Luke Msusa of the Arch-diocese of Blantyre on Saturday humiliated the country’s first lady madame Gertrude Mutharika by rejecting her offer to donate 40 bags of cement towards the rehabilitation of Providence Girls Secondary School hostel in Mulanje.

Madam Mutharika on Saturday visited Providence Girls Secondary School in Mulanje to donate assorted items following the fire that gutted girls’ hostel last month.

The first lady was accompanied by Minister of Education Science and Technology Bright Msaka, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa and other ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) top officials.

But to the surprise of many, Bishop Msusa refused the donation.

Msusa explained that the donation was rejected because the Catholic Church had already identified a foreign donor to carry out rehabilitation works for the hostel that was gutted with fire early this year.

According to Bishop Msusa, Beam Trust did not provide any information to the diocese on the issue of the donation.

“They did not ask us. They just came to the school without any knowledge. In fact, they just came without any information,” said Msusa.

After the rejection, Madam Mutharika changed tune and donated 40 bags of cements to other projects at the school.

Apart from that Mutharika also donated other things like 40 suitcases, 40 school bags, 40 mattresses, plastics cups and plates, soap, exercise books, mathematical instruments, bathing and facing towels, sanitary pads, 40 double deck beds and school uniforms for the affected 39 and the needy at the school.

Meanwhile the issue has raised debate on the social media.