CCAP Blantyre Synod Mutes on Mutharika’s Elections Stand

Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has refused to give its position on whether President Peter Mutharika was right in rejecting electoral reform bills which Parliament presented to him.

Addressing the media yesterday, the synod’s General Secretary, Reverend Billy Gama, said they cannot give their position on the matter unless delegates meet at a general conference.

“If we say ‘this is our position’ on the matter as a synod, some people will say ‘where did we agree this?’ Again if you have been following how the synod operates, you will find out that we do not take part in active politics because we understand that in our churches, we have people of various political affiliations,” he said.

The synod called the briefing to respond to an audio clip in which one of its pastors, Reverend Stanley Chimesya, is heard openly telling Presidential Press Secretary, Mgeme Kalilani, that Mutharika was wrong to reject the bills.

Reverend Gama said although Reverend Chimesya has a right to freedom of opinion, it was important for Malawians to understand that what he said does not represent the position of the synod.

“Blantyre Synod would like to make it clear that any position by the synod is communicated to the public through its constitutionally appointed spokesperson who is the Secretary General,” he said.

On the coronavirus outbreak, Gama said the church is advancing measures such as encouraging its faithful to wash hands regularly, cover their mouths and noses when coughing and avoid close contact with anyone showing flu-like symptoms.

He said the synod has not yet banned public religious gatherings.

“We have written a letter which is to be read in all our churches informing our members on how to avoid the infection. We are encouraging our members that if they have flu-like symptoms, they not go to church,” he said.