Corruption, High Cost of Living among “largest, perennial stones keeping Malawi in the tomb”: Catholic Bishops

Blantyre, 14 March, 2025 / 8:23 PM

In Malawi, widespread corruption, the soaring cost of living, the destructive habit of relying on handouts, and exclusive groupings along aspects such as region, tribe, religion, and political affiliation are among the obstacles that must be addressed if the Southern African nation is to experience a “resurrection”, the country’s Catholic Bishops have said.  

In a statement that Luntha Television published on March 9, members the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) describe the highlighted challenges as the “largest and perennial stones”, which they say are keeping the country in the “tomb of dehumanizing poverty and suffering”.

“Corruption has spread to all aspects of our society. The most devastating corruption is by politicians ruling the country under various regimes and the civil servants who not only facilitate such corruption but also do their thieving,” MCCB members have lamented.

They note the stark contrast between politicians, who they say amass immense wealth within months of taking office and long-serving civil servants, who struggle to afford modest homes.

“How else do these political leaders amass such huge wealth overnight?” MCCB members pose in their 16-page statement titled, “Who will roll away the stone for us?”

Weighing in on the significant rise in the prices of essential goods and services, Malawi’s Catholic Bishops say the high cost of living is “a household song everywhere in the country.”

The most affected are the “vendors who are struggling to sell their merchandise because the items have become too expensive for most people. Equally badly affected are our boarding secondary schools,” they say.

MCCB members decry negative ethnicity manifested in some exclusive relationships, saying the “ever-worsening fragmentation into specific regions, tribes, religions, and political affiliations is a very serious threat to the unity of our Nation.”

“We cannot pretend that the same vice is threatening to tear asunder the Church, which is a grave sin,” they warn, and add, “We must address this evil practice decisively and urgently. Without doing so, our appeal to politicians to resist tribalism will have no effect and will be contrary to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Malawi’s Catholic Bishops caution youths against following politicians blindly as the country prepares for general election on September 16.

“Many citizens, especially the youth, are prepared to lay down their lives – worse still, to beat up supporters of other political parties – in support of their political leaders and political parties that have failed miserably to assist them to live a dignified life,” MCCB members say. 

The Catholic Church leaders fault bribery on the part of politicians, who they say exploit youths by offering them meagre handouts in cash or kind, manipulating them into carrying out their unscrupulous agendas.

“Even political leaders and political parties that have achieved nothing in the past or are completely incapable of achieving anything are still loudly and proudly praised as ‘Boma (district government office)!’” they say

Malawi’s Catholic Bishops denounce dependence on handouts. They say, “The MCCB has recently reflected very seriously on the extent to which we have contributed to this spirit of depending on handouts through our development desks.”

“We have increasingly become aware that corporal works of mercy, especially relief items, can do a lot of harm to beneficiaries if they are done in a way which creates the spirit of life-long dependence in beneficiaries,” they say.

MCCB members condemn politicians’ “abuse of poor people” using the handouts. 

“We are aware that many politicians use handouts to exploit their followers – taking advantage of their poverty and desperation,” they lament, and emphasize, “This form of abuse of poor people is a serious social abuse of vulnerable people in our country and is one of the stones that must be rolled away.”

In their statement, MCCB members acknowledge God as the ultimate source of renewal and transformation, especially during the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year , which Pope Francis initiated under the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope”. 

They call for collective effort in addressing the highlighted obstacles, saying, “The task of addressing these challenges cannot be left to the Government alone. Every Malawian has a role to play in rolling away the stones that hinder our nation’s progress.”

In the statement in which they urge the electorate to look out for political candidates, “who embody the virtues of integrity, courage, and selflessness”, Malawi’s Catholic Bishops advocate for civic education aimed at having Malawians make informed political choices.