MUTHARIKA URGES CHURCHES

MUTHARIKA URGES CHURCHES President Professor Peter Mutharika has urged churches in the country to be economically independent. Professor Mutharika said this at St Mark's Anglican Church in Mzuzu during prayers on Sunday where he congregated with fellow Christians. The President said churches should be motivated to be self-reliant and develop using own initiatives if their mandate of preaching the gospel is to be fruitful. He then donated 100 bags of cement and K1 million to help the completion of the church. During the prayers however, President Mutharika promised to strengthen the fight against crimes against people with albinism. The President then called upon the church to take a leading role in fighting evil in society such as violence against people living with albinism. Mutharika said his government is putting strict measures and learning from what neighboring countries are doing to curb evil citing that he had sent the Inspector General of Police on a study tour to find out how neighbouring countries such as Tanzania and Rwanda had done away with such crimes. The President also asked the judiciary to hand down stiffer penalties which would act as a deterrent for would be offenders. In his sermon, Bishop Fanuel Magangani of the diocese urged Christians to promote unity and love. Bishop Magangani said with unity, Christians can achieve a lot. He therefore asked the congregation to use their belief in Jesus Christ, to be shining examples that can help Malawi end some social ills. St Mark Anglican Church is part of the Anglican Diocese of Northern Malawi. Professor Mutharika is the first sitting head of state to congregate at St Mark's Church, which was founded in 1948.