By Bishop Witmos
MANGOCHI-(MANA)-President Lazarus Chakwera has urged faith leaders in Malawi to join forces with government in the quest to restore the country’s environment, saying the fight against environmental degradation requires collective efforts.
Speaking during an interaction with faith leaders in the Eastern Region at Chikoko-Bay State Lodge in Mangochi on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Chakwera emphasized the need to collectively fight against environmental degradation and said faith leaders have a role to mobilise their congregants to take action on environmental issues for a better Malawi.
“In most areas where we are staying, some people are cutting down trees unnecessary. I have visited places like Namwera here in Mangochi and Michiru in Blantyre, the situation is very worrisome and we need to stop this now,” Chakwera added.
The President’s call comes at a time when Malawi is facing numerous and severe environmental challenges that include deforestation, land degradation and effects of climate change that has negative bearings.
Chakwera said that his government has recently engaged a Nairobi-based company to support over 2 million households with modern cooking stoves to ensure that Malawians depart from heavily dependence on charcoal for domestic purposes.
“In few months coming a Nairobi-based company has committed itself to support us and they will be here to provide more Malawians with modern cooking stoves.
“Apart from that, as a country we have recently enacted very able policies and laws that are meant to protect nature, hence my call for all of us to collaborate in the fight against all factors that disturb nature,” said Chakwera.
He said that faith leaders can help to instill a culture of sustainability and responsibility by incorporating environmental stewardship into their teachings and practices.
In his remarks, National Coordinator for Pastors Fraternal in Malawi, Bishop Andrew Mankhanamba commended President Chakwera for his direction of transformative leadership.
Mankhanamba who is also President of Destiny Ministries International said that as faith leaders, they are proud to see that one of their own is championing the direction of changing Malawi.
“As religious leaders we are impressed with your kind of leadership. You have considered to take direction of stewardship and you have laid a foundation for Malawi to be financially stable through investments in mining, agriculture as well as tourism.
“As such, religious leaders, we do shine where ever we go because we have our own who has shown that we are able,” he added.
The faith leaders included those from Muslim Association of Malawi, Malawi Quadria Muslim Association as well as Malawi Pastors Fraternal.