Mangochi Muslims tear bibles

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

Muslims at Namwera in Mangochi last Sunday protested the distribution of bibles to their school-going children by the Gideon International fearing it was a deliberate ploy Christians want to use in converting Islamic children to Christianity.

They also tore countless copies of the Christian book.

But the action has attracted heavy criticism from National Coordinator for Islamic Information Bureau (IIB) Sheikh Dinala Chabulika and Public Affairs Committee (PAC) chairperson Rev. MacDonald Kadawati.

The two have vehemently criticized the action and called for a stop to disrespect of holy materials.

Mangochi Police could not pick their phone when The Sunday Times wanted to find out more about the incident this week. But our sources confided that the distribution of Bibles to Islamic children by the Gideon International angered Muslims who thought the exercise was meant to convert their children to Christianity.

“Muslims thought this was a deliberate ploy Christians are employing to convert Islamic children to Christianity,” said our source based at Mangochi.

In an interview on Wednesday, IIB coordinator Dinala Chabulika said what happened in Mangochi was deplorable and should be condemned in strongest terms.

“That’s not the stand of all Muslims in the country. Actually, the Muslim family is very disturbed with this development. If it’s true, that’s disrespect to the Bible. And disrespecting of the Bible is not allowed in Islam,” Chabulika said. He said his office has sent a representative to the scene to investigate the incident.

But Chabulika reserved his comment on what they would do with perpetrators, saying the office will determine at a later stage.

“Although we are not supporting what happened in Mangochi, I need to advise the Gideon International to exercise some caution when distributing Bibles in Muslim territories to avoid such incidents. They should learn to use the right approach,” he said.

 PAC acting Chairperson, Reverend MacDonald Kadawati, expressed concern and asked the Muslims and Christians to give room to co-existence. Kadawati wondered why the incident happened when people of the two faiths have co-existed without frictions in the past.

“Just imagine we are having our people getting married to people of other religions so I think the issues of tearing bibles, tearing the Koran is an issue of the past,” he told the media on Sunday.

He equally noted that this was not the stand of the Muslims at large, a few misguided individuals.

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15-year old Khadija selected to secondary school

...family thinks marriage is safer




Happy with her selection: Khadija

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

A mixture of joy and anxiety has gripped Hashim family, a family which almost married off their 15-year old girl to an aging Sheikh in Mangochi, following her selection to Mtuwa Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in the just released PSLCE.

While the giril, Khadija Hashim, is high over the moon with her selection, the family retorts, saying there is nothing to celebrate about because the family is too poor to meet her educational needs.

In January this year, The Sunday Times reported about Sheikh Abdulrashid Denis Nawani who wanted to marry Khadija Hashim of Mosiya Village, T/A Chowe in the district against her will after clinching a deal with the girl’s family.

Although Nawani claimed his religion backs such marriages, National Coordinator for Islamic Information Bureau (IIB) Sheikh Dinala Chabulika condemned the arrangement and described it irresponsibility not worthy coming from a religious leader who is supposed to be exemplary.

This paper learned then that using his financial and material presents to the uncles and aunts, the sheikh lured the family into sacrificing the girl’s future for the social, economic and financial needs the Man of God swore to provide if the Hashims allowed him marry the child.

He promised to keep Khadija in school while at the same time attending to the pressing duties and responsibilities of the family, a commitment which was heavily criticised by a teacher counsellor for the area, Jeniffer Salapa, and YouthNet Counselling (Yoneco) arguing the girl was not ripe to mix the two responsibilities.

Khadija was in Standard Eight at St. Augustine 3 Primary School when the cleric and her family were discussing her holy matrimony behind her backs.

“We cannot provide for her school needs. So there was no need to keep her in school in the first place. The agreement we made with the Sheikh was, therefore, a viable idea of helping her have a brighter future, especially considering the promises the sheikh has made, so far,” Habiba, a blood sister to Khadija, said when interviewed by The Sunday Times early this year.

Salapa and Yoneco facilitated cancellation of the marriage whose arrangements were through with the engagement ceremony scheduled for December last year. The human rights activists kept the girl in school and monitored her performance until she sat for the Primary School Certificate of Education (PSLCE) much to the displeasure and anger of the uncles and the suitor.

Breaking the news in an interview on Monday, Khadija said she was very excited with her selection and was looking forward to achieving her dream of becoming a nurse.

“I’m very happy...I’m going to work very happy so that I can reach my destiny. I want to become a nurse so that I can treat the sick in our staff-constrained hospitals,” the girl said.

But her guardians retorted arguing there was nothing to celebrate about because the family does not have the financial muscle to keep her in school.

The Hashims further worry is that even if a sponsor is identified, the distance their daughter will be covering when going to the school is prohibitive.

“Passing an exam can be good news really, but what are we going to be celebrating about in the midst of financial crises? Where is she going to get the money for fees?” her uncle, M’bwana Imedi, asked the uncle while seated at a shop he disowned to be his.

“Besides, Mtuwa is very far from our place. She can’t operate from home. Normally, pupils who get a place at the school operate as self-boarders. We can’t provide her needs if she chooses to rent a house nearby,” the girl’s sister, Habiba, supported. Mtuwa CDSS is said to be located about 30 kilometres away from Khadija’s home.

And the family still holds the view that Khadija would have been better under Nawani’s care than theirs because the sheikh has the financial capacity to handle her needs.

Asked what their role would be, both Imedi and Habiba just said: “There is nothing we can do. We’ve nothing to offer”. The two were part of the team arranging Khadija’s marriage to cleric.

Yoneco Youth Development and Human Rights Officer, Matthews Malunga, said the organization was looking at the possibility of shouldering the costs. He, however, said it was too early for the organization to confirm itself on the issue.

“Every year, we pay for 10 needy pupils into secondary schools. Unfortunately, Khadija is not part of this year’s team of Yoneco beneficiaries. Currently, we’re discussing to see how best we can help her,” said Malunga.

Teacher counsellor, Jeniffer Salapa, appealed for support from NGOs and people of good will for the girl to realise her dream.



Salapa: became Hashims' enemy



“We’re appealing to well-wishers and NGOs to come forward and bail out this girl. Her friends have already reported for classes. Money should not be a hindrance to her dream,” the counsellor said.

 Last year, Salapa and the Hashim family could not see eye to eye for her role she played in the cancellation of Khadija’s marriage to the aging sheikh.

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Bingu crucial in achieving a peaceful Africa

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

Zuze: Mutharika crucial in peace-building processes

Community of Sant’ Egidio, a lay Catholic organization, says President Bingu wa Mutharika has a big role in solving the political and socioeconomic challenges rocking African continent.

Last week, the Community invited the president to make a keynote speech this year’s International Meeting of Prayer for Peace in Barcelona. But the president failed to attend and, instead, delegated two ministers, bishops and his advisor on religious affairs to represent him.

Mutharika had earlier committed himself to attend the prayer, but changed because he is attending other meetings outside Malawi, according to his advisor on religious affairs, Rev. Billy Gama.

In an interview on Tuesday, one of the executive members of the group, Francisco Zuze, described Mutharika as an epitome of a peaceful and progressing leader in Africa hence the need for his direct involvement in solving problems in war-torn countries.

Zuze explained that it was a tradition for the Community to organize this type of prayers whose aim is to build peace among people of different races and nations.

“We feel our president has a big role in achieving a peaceful nd progressive Africa. Generally, Malawi is a peaceful country and we believe it can offer a big lesson to countries ravaged by political or religious conflicts both within and beyond Africa,” Zuze said. 

“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 can play a crucial role in peace-building processes in African countries hence the invitation being extended to him. And as a Community, we believe prayer is the surest answer to all these challenges and Mutharika’s presence was of great value to the participants at the meeting since Malawi is currently enjoying rapid economic growth, peace and tranquillity,” said Zuze.

Presidential Advisor on Religious Affairs, Rev. Billy Gama confirmed about the invitation. He also confirmed Mutharika had delegated him four others; 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 to represent him at the meeting.

However, Mkhori will not be part of the team as he is reportedly feeling unwell.

“He was very eager and more than willing to attend this meeting to demonstrate to the world how Malawi has managed to live in peace. But because of other equally important meetings he is attending outside Malawi, he has delegated us to represent him,” said Rev. Gama before departing Chileka International Airport in Blantyre.

Community of Sant’ Egidio has been organising a pilgrimage of dialogue and peace in the last 25 years in a number of European and Mediterranean cities.

This year’s prayer was organized under the theme: "Living together in a time of crisis. Family of peoples, family of God".

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