President Arthur Peter Mutharika has commended the Anglican Church in Malawi for being a driver of development in many sectors of the economy thereby impacting positively on livelihoods of not only their members but the whole country.

He was speaking on Tuesday when he held an audience with Anglican bishops from Central Africa Province at Kamuzu Palace.

The President highlighted that since the early missionaries set foot in Central Africa over a century ago, the Anglican church has pushed development of the soul hand in hand with that of the body by engaging in various projects and programmes.

“The Anglican Church here is doing a lot, in providing for the body and the soul. You are running schools and hospitals. You are supporting agriculture, and you are with us in times of emergencies, such as the devastating floods and droughts we experienced the past two years. You are also in environmental rehabilitation and management,” said the President.

The Malawi leader reiterated the need for Church and State to work collectively in instilling good values in the citizenry in a bid to get the country pushing in one direction when it comes to development.

“Church and Government are partners in development. Together we take care of the Body and the Soul. Here in Malawi, we have agreed on pillars through which we will develop our country, namely Patriotism, Integrity and Hardwork,” he said.

President Mutharika added that : “One can only recognize one of your central teachings that “Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God” if they are patriotic, have integrity and work hard.”

The bishops’ contingent was led by Archbishop of Central Africa Province, Most Reverend Albert Chama who is also Bishop of Northern Zambia.