Malawi Muslims in ambitious development plans

The Muslim community in Malawi has disclosed their ambitious plans of opening a university and a television station as one way of promoting the development in the country at the same time promoting the Muslim beliefs, a development the government has welcomed and extended its commitment to support.

In a communiqué issued by the Muslim Supreme Council of Malawi, the Muslim Association of Malawi, and the Qadria Muslim Association of Malawi at the close of the 2012 National Islamic Ijitimah prayers in Blantyre, the Muslims agreed to mobilize resources for the said cause.

Vice President Khumbo Kachali assured the Muslims and all faith community that the current government would continue fostering good relationship with the religious society since the two are partners in development.

Said the Vice President: “We believe that God continues to shower blessings to the nation when religious people kneel down and pray and since your prayers make Malawi succeed, our administration will keep on supporting Muslims in their endeavors too.”

The VP also thanked the organizing committee for inviting former Tanzanian President Ali Hassan Mwinyi to the function.

Ironically, the Anglican Church also invited a team on Anglican faithful from Mbeya, Tanzania to a golden jubilee celebration at the Soche Anglican Church in Blantyre the previuos Sunday, but the team sent their apologies at an eleventh hour due to what they termed immigration hitches.

This it is a however an indication that Malawi and Tanzania live in harmony in as far as religious community is concerned.

The Muslim Ijitma prayers started on Friday October 5 and ended on Sunday October 7 2012. They were held at the Kamuzu stadium in Blantyre.

And the Malawi Vice President also enlightened the Muslim community that noting from the issues raised in their communiqué, the Joyce Banda led government would have no problems supporting them because they linked to the government initiatives, notably the provision of quality education and health services, and the respect to mankind.

“We wish to request government to consider including qualified Muslims into various positions. Many have papers and qualifications but the opportunities are lacking,” reads the communiqué in part.

The Islamic community also bemoans negative reporting in the country’s media about their faith and agreed to lobby for freedom of broadcast for Radio Islam in addition to the establishment of other Muslim radio and television stations.

The Muslim community runs a radio station in Blantyre, radio Islam which is also online, and one of the best in Malawi.

The Joyce Banda government has six Muslims faithful in its cabinet. Full ministers hold the following portfolios; Energy and Mining; Economic Planning and Development; Transport and Public Infrastructure; and Home affairs and Internal Security.

Deputy Ministers are from Environment and Climate Change and Health and Population (a woman).

There also many Muslims in high-ranking portfolios.

The theme of this year’s Ijitma prayers was “Stock taking of Islam in Malawi”.

The VP also pledged that the government would offer two buses to ferry the Muslims that will be travelling to Mbeya, Tanzania soon.

Muslim women will this weekend also hold prayers in the northern city of Mzuzu.

Sheik Idrissa Muhammad Chairperson of the Muslim association of Malawi thanked the government for uniting the people and appointing people in positions on merit.