Tag Archives: Rev Timothy Nyasulu

Religion

CCAP Livingstonia Synod sued for flouting term of office limit; June 15 set for first court hearing 

Maravi Post correspondent

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The disgruntled Reverend Timothy Nyasulu, and eight other clerics of the Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), this week dragged the synod leadership to court, challenging the re-election of Reverend Levi Nyondo as General Secretary (GS).

The development comes in the aftermath of the August 2016 tense Annual General Assembly (AGA), where the synod re-elected Nyondo as GS, contrary to the church’s term of office limits that sets this at two consecutive terms.

The applicants accuse Nyondo and other office bearers at the assembly, for unconstitutional conduct, therefore called for an emergency elective general assembly.

The clerics faulted the Synod’s moderator, John Gondwe, who is a first defendant, for failing to call for a special meeting of the synod, to resolve disputes that ensued within the assembly regarding the limit of terms, and conditions of the office of the GS and his vice.

The applicants also sue Nyondo for maliciously saying that Nyasulu and two others collected MK50 million from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), to palm oil members of the church not to vote for Nyondo.

The lawsuit was lodged at the High Court in Mzuzu by lawyers from Lameck and Company. The complainants claim Nyondo accused Reverend Clifford Baloyi (Commissioner for Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) of soliciting MK30 million to kill him.

The petitioners want Nyondo and Reverend Douglous Chipofya, to also respond to defamation charges, as they claim that their reputation as members of the synod was greatly injured.

The clerics have gone further to obtain an injunction that removes all the elected office bearers at the synod’s secretariat, until the court’s determination on the matter.
“,,,,Order that the 7th defendant (CCAP Livingstonia Synod), does appoint caretaker General Secretary, Moderator, Deputy General Secretary and two members, pending the resolution at the emergency meeting for the synod,” reads in part the injunction dated May 22, 2017.

The lawsuit was lodged at High Court in Mzuzu by lawyers at Lameck and Company, the complainants claim Nyondo accused Reverend Clifford Baloyi of soliciting MK30 million to kill him.

The Livingstonia Synod is renowned for being critical of government, especially the DPP administrations, due to the introduction of the quota system of selecting students into public universities, among others.

Nyondo, who is a key fierce critic of government and Chipofya, could not immediately comment on the matter.

Malawi

Livingstonia Synod office politics: Pro-DPP reverend Nyasulu demoted

Maravi Post correspondent
Reverend Nyondo- dumps his rival to Rumphi district
Reverend Nyondo- dumps his rival to Rumphi district

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—The synod of the Livingstonia church has transferred Reverend Timothy Nyasulu from the synod’s headquarters to Kondowe in Rumphi, where he will head the Station and be Chaplain for University of Livingstonia.

The transfer comes barely five days after the synod conducted elections which saw fierce critic of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) emerging a winner defeating Nyasulu who was allegedly to have much financial support from the DPP officials.

This means Nyasulu has been demoted as Education Secretary for the synod under General Secretary’s office, and he has been replaced by Reverend Vincent Kalua.

According to The Times, Reverend Douglas Chipofya who came fourth during the elections but was a day later elected as Moderator-Elect has been sent to Ekwendeni Theological College to teach ministers.

Ministers who were behind Nyasulu have been transferred to churches in rural areas and some of the affected ministers are Reverend Zina Sibande and Makuni Gondwe who were at Mchengatuba and Katawa within Mzuzu City, and have been posted to Njuyu and Rumphi, respectively.

Reverend Maurice Munthali has been recalled from Area 47 in Lilongwe to Katawa Congregation in Mzuzu replacing Gondwe.

Reverend Joshua Nyangulu who was heading Ekwendeni Mission has been sent to Nkhamenya and Reverend Lumbani Munthali is heading to Bolero in Rumphi from Ifumbo in Chitipa.

Nyondo switched off his mobile phone just after introducing the subject. His moderator Reverend John Gondwe refused to answer and he referred us back to Nyondo. Reverend Nyasulu also refused to comment on the matter.

Two camps have emerged in the synod following the re-election of Nyondo as the General Secretary for synod.

The second session of the committee meeting after finalising the elections programme on Saturday saw some ministers who voted for Nyasulu not contributing in the deliberations.

Some were heard murmuring, accusing Nyondo of character assassination towards his challenger Nyasulu by implicating him that he was funded by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) during campaigns.

The division was also visible when ministers were taking lunch around 3 o’clock as those who were behind Nyondo sat separately from others as they mocked Nyasulu’s supporters.

Nyondo admitted that the church is divided but argued that it is because of political parties’ interference into the synod assembly agenda.

He has also admitted that the church was corrupted towards the elections, arguing he received reports that some church ministers pocketed money for campaign.

He, therefore, also accused retired ministers of being used to foster divisions in the church, describing their conduct as due to poverty.