Divisions have emerged within Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central African Presbytery (CCAP) ahead of the forthcoming electoral General Assembly scheduled for August 24 to 27 this year.

Information at hand indicates that divisions have emerged in the Synod due to the fact that candidates that are vying for the positions of the Secretary General are being sponsored by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition People’s Party (PP).

According to inside sources, DPP is support Reverend Alex Maulana on the post of General Secretary while PP is supporting Reverends Lazarus Kadango and Paul Mawaya.

Confirming the development in an interview with one of the local daily papers in the country, Reverend Stanley Chimesya who is also the synod’s prison chaplain accused the current General Secretary Reverend Alex Maulana of bringing politics into the synod by actively supporting the DPP.

Reacting to the claims, Maulana accused Chimesya of being against his candidature.

“I have heard reports that DPP is supporting my candidature and that my fellow competitors are supported by PP. But that is not true because we are not politicians. I know [Reverend MacDonald] Kadawati and Chimesya are against me but they are not God. I am going to win if God says so,” Maulana told Daily Times.

In April this year, President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika distanced himself from claims by some candidates in the election who were claiming to have been fully endorsed by Mutharika, saying the information was not true.