The Interfaith Forum for Peace, Justice and Dialogue has strongly condemned comments concerning the health of Malawi President, Peter Mutharika, describing the remarks as irresponsible, inflammatory, and bordering on treasonous.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Reverend Damson Mchenga, the interfaith organisation criticised comments made by CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa, who suggested there could be a change in the country’s presidency within the next two months.
According to the IFPJD, such speculation is dangerous and has the potential to create unnecessary fear and instability. The organisation argued that public statements predicting an imminent change in national leadership could have serious consequences for the country’s peace and stability.
The forum also appealed to Malawians to accord the President’s health the same level of privacy and respect afforded to every citizen. It maintained that personal medical information, regardless of an individual’s public position, should remain confidential unless disclosed by those directly involved.
The statement comes against the backdrop of heightened political tension in Malawi, following weeks of public speculation surrounding the health and status of senior political leaders. Namiwa’s earlier comments regarding Vice-President Jane Ansah’s political future had also drawn sharp criticism from religious leaders and government officials.
With its latest statement, the IFPJD has joined other faith-based organisations calling for greater responsibility in public discussions, particularly on issues relating to national leadership and the personal wellbeing of public office holders.
The interfaith body further urged Malawians, irrespective of their political affiliation, to exercise restraint when commenting on sensitive national matters. It warned that careless or unverified claims could undermine national stability while eroding the principles of human dignity and mutual respect.
As of the time of reporting, neither Sylvester Namiwa nor the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) had issued an official response to the IFPJD’s statement.
