Prophet Shepherd Bushiri of the Enlighten Christian Gathering (ECG) Church as urged political leaders for both sides in the ongoing Presidential polls case to prepare their subjects to accept the pending ruling of the Constitutional Court.
The Constitutional Court hearing the Presidential polls case where Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and United Transformation Movement (UTM) President Dr. Saulos Chilima are seeking nullification of May 21 poll results, is expected to deliver its ruling later this year.
Speaking during a media brief monitored on Times Television, Bushiri said he is deeply concerned with series of violence demonstrations currently underway in the country.
He said the political instabilities currently being experienced in the country is scarily to investors and the country’s economy.
“Fellow brothers and sisters, let us not underestimate the power of the Constitutional Court ruling on the peace of the country. Expectations are huge on both sides of the argument. But how are we managing these expectations?
“I am certain and convinced that if we don’t answer and deal with these questions today, I can assure you WE ARE SITTING ON A TIMELY BOMB as a nation,” said Bushiri.
He added: “I am here, therefore, to MAKE A STRONG APPEAL TO OUR POLITICAL LEADERS TO START PREPARING PEOPLE IN THEIR CAMPS TO ACCEPT THE COURT’S TRANSPARENT AND INCORRUPTIBLE DECISION BY THE END OF THE DAY.
“Through this press briefing, I want to begin a NATIONAL PEACE CONVERSATION that aims at challenging our leaders to begin a process of preparing our people of life after the Constitutional Court ruling. This is what I call a MOMENT OF COLLECTIVE REFLECTION.
“Are we ready, as a nation, to accept the verdict and move on OR we will not accept and have the current stalemate continue?”
Bushiri has since proposed 7 points to political leaders in the country.
1. Government has the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma). I know political strife is one of the disasters that Dodma manages through preparedness and response. At this time, we need to ask what Dodma is doing to prepare the nation on the political strife that will emerge after the Constitutional Court Ruling. We need answers.
2. To the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), we need to appeal to the leadership to start challenging and informing their people about the coming court ruling. We need peace today, tomorrow and forever and I am certain that the DPP will champion this noble.
3. To the opposition, especially MCP and UTM, how much do the leadership discuss peace in their meetings and rallies? The leadership needs to start preparing their people NOW!
4. The International Community, how much are they engaging with political and social leaders in the country regarding the Constitutional Court ruling in the offing? They need to be challenged to stand up NOW not just after incidents have already happened.
5. To us the clergy, how much, in our sermons, are we preparing our members with regards to the ruling in the offing? Do we just preach about heaven ignoring the danger we are about to face as a nation? This is the time the clergy must come together and lead the process of preparing our people.
6. To the media, how much are we sensitizing and enlightening our people with regards to the coming judgement? Do we consider this a critical news story in our newsroom? I am calling on the media in Malawi to begin this noble process.
7. To Civil Society Organisations (CSO), I want them to begin a nationwide campaign of civic educating people about how critical the ruling by the Constitutional Court will be and also the importance of accepting it. CSOs must also aim at creating forums where all key stakeholders should convene through a NATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE and deliberate these issues.
