Bingu invited to attend World Peace prayers

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

Mutharika is crucial to peace-building process in Africa

President Bingu wa Mutharika, has been invited to attend a three-day International Meeting of Prayer for Peace to take place in Barcelona from tomorrow, Sunday 3—5. Mutharika has been invited in his capacity
as chairperson for African Union (AU).

Presidential Advisor on Religious Affairs, Rev. Billy Gama, confirmed about the invitation, but said Mutharika has failed to attend the meeting because “he is busy with other equally important activities outside Malawi”.

The prayer has been organized by a lay Catholic organization, Community of Sant’ Egidio under the theme: "Living together in a time of crisis. Family of peoples, family of God".

An executive member of the Community in the country, Francisco Zuze, said it was a tradition for the  ommunity to organize this type of prayers whose aim is to build peace among people of different races.

“The current obscure time of economic crises and regional conflicts giving uncertainty and fear, religions question themselves in order to build a dialogue carrying new spiritual energies to be offered to
world lacking visions therefore hope for the future,” said Zuze further explaining that the Community has been organising a pilgrimage of dialogue and peace in the last 25 years in a number of European and
Mediterranean cities.

“The prayers will centre on peace-building process, truce and reconciliation among warring parties. And in his capacity as AU chairperson, President Bingu wa Mutharika plays a crucial role in peace-building processes in African countries hence the invitation being extended to him,” he added.

Rev. Gama said yesterday that much as the president values the importance of prayer in peace-building among the people and nations, he (Mutharika) would not attend the meeting as he was already attending meetings in the US.

“Yes! I can confirm that the president was invited to attend this important meeting in Barcelona. However, the president will not make it because he is very busy with other schedules at the moment,” said
the advisor.

Mutharika has, instead, delegated Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Mwanza, Deputy Minister in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Nicholas Dausi, Bishops emeritus Allan Chamgwera and
Felix Mkhori and Gama himself to represent him at the meeting, Rev. Gama said. However, Mkhori will not be part of the team as he is reportedly feeling unwell.

“The president thought we should represent him because this is a very important meeting. We can’t just let it go as a peace-loving country as well as AU chair,” he emphasized, adding: “The delegation is leaving today (yesterday) for the meeting.”

Zuze has indicated that lay cultural and political delegates from Latin America, Europe and Africa will be joining the dialogue to find new solutions and resolutions to enter a path leaving the global economic crises and the fighting against terrorism behind.

Also attending are Muslim and Jewish delegations from 16 countries and the major Asian religions representatives.
 END