By Timothy Peter

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has called on Tonse-led government to take urgent action in addressing different challenges that have crippled the poor Malawians in the country.

ECM President, Most Reverend George Desmond Tambala and other notable leaders in the Catholic community, said this through a pastoral letter on the current state of affairs in the country released on Monday October 10.

In the letter, ECM has called on the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to come together and fight what they called “deep rooted corruption”.

Catholic leaders have also asked President Lazarus Chakwera to lead by example in enforcing austerity measures by stopping unnecessary internal and external travels as one way of expenditure control.

Other issues which ECM needs to be urgently acted upon, include proper and fair implementation of this year’s Affordable Input Programme (AIP), food insecurity, rising cost of living and unstable economic environment among others.

Reads part of the statement: “We painfully recall that when slightly over two years ago we went to the polls and ushered in a new government we did so on the premises of what we thought were credible campaign promises of a new Malawi coming our way.

“Regrettably, and this seems to be the verdict of many sober Malawians, the much-touted promises of change are far from being realized and the daily struggle for survival for the vast majority of Malawians only deepens.”

As part of recommendations, the bishops have called on duty bearers in the fight against corruption to systematically collaborate to combat this destructive social ill.

They have further asked for immediate release of the Public Sector Review System Task Force’s report and be made public.