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In Jubilee Year Spirit, Let’s Seek “integrity, courage, selflessness” in Political Candidates: Malawi’s Catholic Bishops

Silas Isenjia

By Silas Isenjia

Blantyre, 12 March, 2025 / 7:02 pm (ACI Africa).

Ahead of the 2025 general elections in Malawi, Catholic Bishops in the Southern African nation are calling on the electorate in the country to look out for virtues that align with the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year in the political candidates.

In a statement that Luntha Television published on March 9, members of the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) say, “In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we are called to elect political leaders who embody the virtues of integrity, courage, and selflessness.”

While good virtues are essential in selecting leaders, MCCB members say, “the quality of a country's political leaders ultimately depends on the choices made by its citizens at the ballot box.”

“If voters are more interested in voting for someone largely because he/she is of their tribe or a member of their faith group, they will get such a leader even if he/she has no track record of having managed something with distinct results other than simply being a good salesperson of words,” they explain ahead of the country’s elections scheduled for September 16.

Malawi’s Catholic Bishops underline the need for the electorate to go for merit, saying, “Citizens, especially in poor countries such as Malawi, should elect leaders considering their ability and capability to make a difference and add value to the society.”

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They highlight discipline, trustworthiness, courage, humaneness, and intelligence as some of the virtues Malawi’s eligible voters should look out for in the political candidates.

MCCB members also emphasize the quality of being God-fearing, and caution, “We should guard against being deceived by actors who pretend to fear God in public, while in private or once elected into leadership positions, connive with thieves to steal national resources.”

“As a rule, we should elect into political leadership positions only accountable politicians, that is, those without corruption background – not those pulling trailers full of corrupt practices,” they say.

Nevertheless, Malawi’s Catholic Bishops continue, “we must insist on having God-fearing political leaders. Our country, like all poor countries, is constantly subjected to the secular agenda of rich countries that we adopt ways of living that are not only contrary to God’s teachings but also our cultural values.”

“In this regard, we sincerely thank God that so far, none of the presidents we have had have succumbed to the pressure of selling our religious and cultural values in exchange for foreign aid,” they note.

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In their statement, MCCB members also outline the "important qualities of the State President Malawi needs today" as the Southern African nation prepares for the election of the President and members of the National Assembly.

According to them, the magnitude of the challenges the people of God in Malawi are facing can be addressed with the right person at the country’s Presidency.

The President, MCCB members say, has to take “tough and brave decisions for a better future of the country and not bury his/her head in the sand in the face of oncoming storms.”

Malawi needs a President, who will “have the courage to stand up and say what needs to be said rather than just saying what people like to hear or being tossed about by her/his advisers,” they emphasize.

Malawians should settle on a presidential candidate, who is ready to “work for people’s well-being rather than fighting for his/her re-election or protecting political positions of colleagues,” MCCB members say.

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They go on to highlight listening as essential on the part of the country’s President, who they say should not only listen to the ordinary people but also to other leaders to foster collaboration.

MCCB members advocate political leaders able to resist nepotism, regionalism, cronyism, and corruption.

Malawi’s Catholic Bishops want the electorate to give a chance to political candidates, who will “reinforce the rule of law across the country, and bring to an end the torturing and killing of elderly people in villages.”

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.