The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the forthcoming general election is conducted in a credible, peaceful, and highly ethical manner.

The Director of Social Services for the archdiocese, Brian Odiambo, shared these sentiments on Friday, August 22, at Msamba Catholic Centre in Lilongwe.

Odiambo said justice is the profound backbone of a peaceful election, urging all relevant stakeholders to act professionally and prioritize people’s needs.

“There is a strong conviction that peace is the fruit of justice; this work only matters if it protects people, strengthens trust, and allows the truth to breathe. Our commitment to this is clearly non-partisan, professional, and people-centered. We, therefore, implore all other players to act in line with this,” Odiambo said.

“I want you to know that your role extends beyond polling day. Your mission is to watch the whole journey, not just the finish line. Observe the pre-election environment, document incidents, verify facts, and file timely reports. Be courteous, be non-interfering, and always prioritize people’s safety and dignity. Share local realities candidly and escalate issues early so they can be addressed before they harden into crises.” Odiambo urged the Long-Term Observers.

In his remarks, CCJP district coordinator for Nkhotakota, Precious Rabson expressed his gratitude for the orientation, stating it would go a long way toward ensuring a credible and peaceful general election within the archdiocese’s catchment area and throughout Malawi as a whole.

Rabson called on all long-term observers in all the deaneries to remain vigilant, focused, and disciplined in their work.

“I ask my friends to maintain a disciplined reporting cadence and foster a culture of verification. Remember to put facts first, get names right, and be exact about times, as every detail strengthens credibility. We need to have a rigorous observation and take courage, honesty, and dedication as our compass for peace to take root in our country,” Rabson stated.

During the orientation, the district coordinators also shared their reports from all the deaneries in the archdiocese. The meeting brought together all the CCJP district coordinators, the CCJP secretariat, several Catholic priests, and some administrative staff from the Archdiocese of Lilongwe.

By Alex Nasoni

The Catholic faithful in Mchinji District have been challenged to find ways of addressing some of the driving factors behind the rising cases of early child marriages.

According to some community members, the distribution of contraceptives by civil society organizations and government agencies in villages and schools is the root cause of the issue.

However, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, his Lordship Vincent Mwakhwawa, quashed these concerns.

He said the Catholic Church does not allow its members to use modern contraceptive methods, allowing only traditional ones.

Bishop Mwakhwawa believes that the issue is a lack of faith in the community and urged them to deepen their faith to combat the problem.

Speaking at Mponda Zone of St. Joseph Ludzi Parish on Wednesday in Mchinji District, Bishop Mwakhwawa noted that most families do not pray in their homes, which he believes contributes to bad behavior.

He appealed to the faithful to deepen their love for prayer, the Eucharist, and to be hard workers and charitable.

He believes these practices will not only help end early child marriages but also strengthen the community’s Catholic faith and help them resist anything that contradicts church teachings.

St. Joseph Ludzi Parish Priest, Father Thomas Msalala, urged the 280 confirmed children to use the gift of wisdom they received from the Holy Spirit to know the difference between right and wrong.

“Sometimes it is very difficult for young people to differentiate between good and bad. They should realize that wisdom from the Holy Spirit surpasses intelligence,” Father Msalala said.

Mponda Zone Chairperson, Gift Saka, stressed the need for continued coordination so that children continue to receive church teachings, as confirmation alone is not enough.

One of the confirmed children, Joseph Jonathan from Maimbidwe Zone, expressed his joy after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, believing that his desire to be a PMS animator might now be fulfilled.

Jonathan urged his peers to see this as a blessing and use it to change their lives spiritually.

By Lester Mhone

Acting secretary for the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) under the Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Madalitso Chilalire, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of cooperatives under the Securing Sustainable Livelihood for 2,000 Subsistence Fishermen at Lake Malawi project.

Chilalire shared his excitement Wednesday during a monitoring visit to the Makwasa Fish Farming Club, Namauta Irrigation Scheme, and Nakalezi Cooperative in Salima District.

CADECOM is implementing the project with funding from BMZ through Sign of Hope, which is phasing out this month.

The project is focused on securing sustainable livelihoods for 2,000 subsistence fishermen and farmers in the region.

The secretary has called on members of the cooperatives to find other sources of funding to sustain the initiated projects.

“I have called on members of these cooperatives to find other ways of getting finances for sustainability,” he added.

Acting Chief Planning Officer for Salima District Council, Joana Chitaya, applauded CADECOM’s initiative, stating that it aligns with the Malawi 2063 development goals.

Chitaya highlighted that even though the project is phasing out, the district has plans in place to support the initiatives.

“Let me assure the cooperatives that the government has put plans in place to support such initiatives so that they are well-sustained,” she said.

Chairperson for the Namauta Irrigation Scheme and representing the three cooperatives, Langton Sayinani, said CADECOM has changed their lives through the support they have provided.

Sayinani then urged the government to provide full support for the project to ensure its sustainability.

“Let me ask the government to support us through loans so that we can continue with the projects,” he added.

By Dumayo