A prayer protest against a bid by Malawi President Bakili Muluzi to seek re-election in 2004 has received a green light from the government despite earlier threats that any such protests would be crushed by force, Catholic priests said on Sunday.
”We want to thank the government for allowing the churches to hold this prayer crusade this afternoon,” Focus Chikweya, a priest in the populous Soche township of Blantyre told about 20 000 parishioners.
Chikweya urged all Catholics, who thunderously clapped their hands and ululated over the announcement, to attend the prayers called to protest moves to amend the constitution to eliminate the current limit of presidential terms to two.
”Don’t fear to come. Let us show our unity and pray for the vision of this country. It’s serious business as the nation is at the political crossroads and politicians in a dilemma over the third term issue,” said Chikweya.
”Some of the ministers and top leaders pushing for the third term are unfortunately Catholics and they need our prayers,” he added.
Political commentators, fearing the protest might be stopped by overzealous police authorities on instructions from Muluzi, said the prayer crusade would be a test for democracy.
Late last month Muluzi, facing growing opposition to his controversial third term bid, threatened to use force to crush demonstrations, either for and against his plan to seek re-election in 2004.
But after the law society of Malawi and influential religious groups including the Roman Catholic church applied for an injunction against Muluzi’s threat, the High Court suspended his ban on protests, saying the order limited people’s constitutional right to express themselves on a matter of public interest.
Muluzi dismissed the High Court ruling as ”silly, irresponsible and highly insensitive” and vowed he would defy the court ruling and instruct the army and police to ”deal with anyone to ensure there is peace and stability”.
The president is scheduled on Sunday to hold a rally about eight kilometres away from the venue of the prayer crusade.
The protest marks the first time Catholics and Protestant churches are joining forces against a political move.
In the past, the influential Catholic church has acted alone in the small southern African country.
An ad hoc alliance of Christian churches in Malawi has said it would go to court to try to prevent the constitutional amendment. – Sapa-AFP