Keywords:
Malawi, Human dignity, Human Rights, Churches, Catholic, Protestant, Menswaardigheid, Menseregte, Kerke, Katoliek
Abstract
In this paper, I show the critical role played by the
Protestant and the Roman Catholic Churches with regard to the government’s abuse of
human rights in Malawi in the years 2004 to 2012. I argue that the Protestant and
Catholic leaders’ response to Bingu wa Mutharika’s government’s violation of human
rights was influenced by a number of factors: first, the Church leaders’ perceptions
of Wa Mutharika’s uneasiness about their critical voice. Second were the Church
leaders’ perceptions of the weak position of the government. Finally, I argue that
though not always uniform or consistent, the churches’ prophetic voice was
occasionally undermined by their partisan interests, which sometimes were exploited
by the government.
