wfn.org | Lutheran bishop urges Malawi's politicians to address economic matters

[franki@elca.org]

LILONGWE, Malawi/GENEVA, 4 September 2000 (LWI) - The Lutheran Bishop of
Malawi, Joseph P. Bvumbwe, has called on all politicians in the country to
"stop bickering and start looking for ways to strengthen the stormy national
economy."

Speaking at the eighth general assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Malawi (ELCM), Bishop Bvumbwe pointed out that Malawi's economy has
deteriorated greatly and the inflation rate is on the rise again, posing
serious challenges to many sections of society, including the church.

According to the 1999 United Nations Development Program Report (UNDP),
Malawi has a per capita income of USD 169. About 60 percent of its 10
million people live below the poverty line indicator of USD 40 per capita
income.

"Our politicians are worrying us a lot. There is a growing tendency now that
the UDF [the ruling United Democratic Front party] is being made a very
strong party, while the MCP [Malawi Congress Party], which is the main
opposition, is being weakened. If this goes on unchecked, this country is
going to have one super power," lamented the bishop.

Addressing participants at the church's headquarters in the capital,
Lilongwe, Malawi's health minister Aleke Banda commended the ELCM for its
role in development work in the country.

Banda asked the church to intensify efforts in the HIV/AIDS campaign,
pointing out that many people are dying as a result of the killer disease.
According to Malawi's Ministry of Health and Population, some 265,000 people
have died in the country since 1985 when the first HIV case was diagnosed.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says that over 25 percent of
women attending antenatal clinics in the urban centers of Lilongwe and
Blantyre have tested HIV positive.

The August 14-20 ELCM biennial meeting closed with the ordination of 16
pastors, the first time the church had ordained such a large number of
priests.

(The LWF is a global communion of 131member churches in 72 countries
representing over 59 million of the world's 63 million Lutherans. Its
highest decision making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven years.
Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council which meets
annually, and its Executive Committee. The LWF secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material presented does
not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units.
Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material
may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

*       *       *

LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION
PO Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Assistant Editor (English): Pauline Mumia
Tel: (41.22) 791.63.54
Fax: (41.22) 791.66.30 (Please note new fax number)
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/