5 August 2011
Power and fuel shortages are causing unrest in Malawi. Concerned about the cost of living, protesters took to the streets for two days in late July. Security forces killed 19 people in a bid to control demonstrations in the cities of Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu.
The Malawian church is calling on President Mutharika’s government to engage with the people and respect their freedoms in a country where 75 per cent of the population live on less than 1US$ a day.
Tax rises and government spending cuts have provoked fury and hardships are being compounded by a lack of incoming foreign currency, which is impeding the import of medicines and fertiliser.
Lack of fuel and fertiliser in particular will have a devastating impact on food production as farmers prepare for the coming growing season in remote areas.
‘The church, along with other civil society organisations, is asking the president to negotiate on concerns around governance, economic policies and human rights,’ says a Tearfund source in the country. ‘Prayer is needed now more than ever.’
Across Malawi, joint interdenominational prayers took place across all district centres on Saturday 30 July. Church leaders in all the districts are mobilising their members to pray throughout August, asking God to heal their nation. Please join with the Church in Malawi in prayer.
- Unite to pray for a resolution to the current crisis in Malawi.
- Pray for the next demonstration on August 17: for it to be peaceful and effective in opening up a dialogue between civil society and the government.
- Pray the government will display humility and a willingness to listen and act.
- Ask for lasting reform in a country where poverty is a way of life for so many.
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