Catholics to hold national prayers for peace on October 19

Catholics in Malawi will on October 19 hold national prayers pray for peace, unity and reconciliation following “disturbing trends that have occurred as an aftermath of the 21st May tripartite polls,” the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has said.

Malawi has been rocked in an elections dispute over the results of the presidential race, after MEC declared President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika winner of the poll.

Both opposition parties MCP and UTM have petitioned the court, seeking nullification of the result, claiming the poll was fraught with irregularities.

But ECM Secretary General Fr. Henry Saindi said in a statement said it was important for the biggest church in Malawi to hold the Eucharist celebration and pray for peace, unity and reconciliation. “It is an important national celebration for the entire Catholic church in Malawi,” he said.

“As Catholics, we believe in the power of prayer. We are aware human efforts can fail but God does not fail,” he said, adding that:
“It is against this background that the ECM has decided to hold nationwide prayers in all dioceses of the Catholic Church to seek God’s intervention.”

The Church was this time divided on whom to support for president, with several of the seven dioceses openly supporting Saulos Chilima (a catholic) of UTM, while others remained non-committal.

MEC has said no church or religious body should endorse a candidate as this is against the rights of the electorate to choose a candidate of their choice.