![Chakwera: Gap between the rich and the poor increasing in Malawi]()
Malawians on Friday have joined Christians worldwide in celebrating Christmas; a day Christians commemorate and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ whom they believe is the Son of God who will lead them into new life in heaven after death.
[caption id="attachment_98560" align="alignright" width="600"]
![Chakwera: Gap between the rich and the poor increasing in Malawi]()
Chakwera: Gap between the rich and the poor increasing in Malawi[/caption]
Radios and televisions were awash with messages of the birth of Jesus who mostly preached peace and harmony according to the Bible, the Christian holy book that chronicles in detail the life of Jesus who was born in Bethlehem.
Leader of Opposition in parliament Lazarus Chakwera said he was worried with reports of widening gap between the poor and the rich in Malawi, saying this is what Jesus could have condemned.
“The economic benefits of our country continue to be enjoyed by only a privileged few, while the majority whose number continues to increase are left out of these economic and development benefits. While few have more than what they need, many Malawians have almost nothing, not even knowing where their next meal is going to come from,” pointed out Chakwera.
He asked the rich in Malawi to help the poor in these economic turbulent times, saying the poor need food, shelter and clothes among other.
“Christmas is about love. Love is about making ourselves and what we have available for others,” said Chakwera in his message.
He said the January floods left some Malawians virtually with no food therefore it was imperative that the haves help the have not’s.
“This year many people are facing acute food shortage partly due to low yields of the country's main staple, maize, but largely because of the floods we had during the last rainy season.
“Maize production decreased by well over 1,000,000 metric tons, resulting in a national food deficit of about 30 percent. This means over 200,000 Malawians have no food. If we want to be part of God’s story this Christmas, we must surrender our attempts to write our own stories,” he said.
“I therefore implore you fellow Malawians, to be part of God’s agenda, to be part of God’s bigger story by each making yourselves available to those who need you and your services. What we have freely received from God, we must freely give to those in need,” said Chakwera, a former president of Assemblies of God.
He said on December 23 he went to his constituency in Lilongwe where he shared 200 bags of flour to the elderly and people with disability, saying the demand was far much greater than what he anticipated as more people went back home empty handed.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya – who is also Malawi Congress Pary (MCP) vice president - urged people to drive carefully on the roads of the country as recently there has been a lot of carnage happening. He too wished Malawians a Happy Christmas.
He said he usually takes time off to celebrate with people in his home village in Karonga.
Chakwera: Gap between the rich and the poor increasing in Malawi[/caption]
Radios and televisions were awash with messages of the birth of Jesus who mostly preached peace and harmony according to the Bible, the Christian holy book that chronicles in detail the life of Jesus who was born in Bethlehem.
Leader of Opposition in parliament Lazarus Chakwera said he was worried with reports of widening gap between the poor and the rich in Malawi, saying this is what Jesus could have condemned.
“The economic benefits of our country continue to be enjoyed by only a privileged few, while the majority whose number continues to increase are left out of these economic and development benefits. While few have more than what they need, many Malawians have almost nothing, not even knowing where their next meal is going to come from,” pointed out Chakwera.
He asked the rich in Malawi to help the poor in these economic turbulent times, saying the poor need food, shelter and clothes among other.
“Christmas is about love. Love is about making ourselves and what we have available for others,” said Chakwera in his message.
He said the January floods left some Malawians virtually with no food therefore it was imperative that the haves help the have not’s.
“This year many people are facing acute food shortage partly due to low yields of the country's main staple, maize, but largely because of the floods we had during the last rainy season.
“Maize production decreased by well over 1,000,000 metric tons, resulting in a national food deficit of about 30 percent. This means over 200,000 Malawians have no food. If we want to be part of God’s story this Christmas, we must surrender our attempts to write our own stories,” he said.
“I therefore implore you fellow Malawians, to be part of God’s agenda, to be part of God’s bigger story by each making yourselves available to those who need you and your services. What we have freely received from God, we must freely give to those in need,” said Chakwera, a former president of Assemblies of God.
He said on December 23 he went to his constituency in Lilongwe where he shared 200 bags of flour to the elderly and people with disability, saying the demand was far much greater than what he anticipated as more people went back home empty handed.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya – who is also Malawi Congress Pary (MCP) vice president - urged people to drive carefully on the roads of the country as recently there has been a lot of carnage happening. He too wished Malawians a Happy Christmas.
He said he usually takes time off to celebrate with people in his home village in Karonga.
