Religious leaders not relenting on abortion law: ‘Genocide of unborn babies in Malawi’
Faith leaders stand resolute on their resolve to block the debating and enactment of the proposed Abortion Bill scheduled for tabling in the National Assembly this week.
The clergy equate the passing of the Abortion Bill to ‘authorising murder.-Photo by Watipaso Mzungu, Nyasa Times
Faith leaders strongly ask the lawmakers not to pass the Abortion Bill on behalf of the Malawi nation.-Photo by Watipaso Mzungu, Nyasa Times
The clergymen and women, riding on the banner of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) and Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi (QMAM), have vowed to take any steps towards frustrating efforts by the members of Parliament (MPs) to debate and pass the bill.
Led by Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa of the Archdiocese of Blantyre, the faith leaders addressed journalists in Lilongwe where they reiterated that abortion is murder, arguing life begins at conception.
“We, the religious mother bodies in the country, would like to reiterate our position that we celebrate, protect and defend life and the dignity of the human person and we call for collective voice to all Malawians to stand up for the life of all people, including the unborn child. Human life is a fundamental value because God created human being in His own image and likeness, male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27),” said Msusa.
He called upon MPs to reject any calls to pass the proposed bill.
Msusa urged constituents in all the 193 constituencies to petition their legislators not to side with ‘genocide of unborn babies in Malawi’ through enactment of the abortion bill.
“The government, in collaboration with the private sector and other key stakeholders, should quickly join efforts to improve health facilities in our existing hospitals and health facilities, especially in rural parts of this country, in order to adequately handle major health complications, including maternal-related cases for girls and women. Currently, this is a serious challenge,” emphasized Msusa.
A woman who almost aborted some 34 years ago after being impregnated by a neighbor at the age of 15, Eunice Banda, said abortion is evil and risky to a mother’s life.
Banda appealed to all women in the country to join hands in fighting attempts to legalize abortion.
Parliamentary Committee on Health chairperson Matthews Ngwale said in an interview with Nyasa Times that they were not introducing a new law but providing additional exceptions.
Many faith leaders are busy talking about abortion bill..why? Do you want to look holy.. And yet, many of you are fornicaters, witches, crooks etc Muzitolere mafana
Kwazaza mbuliza azipita ndianeneli onyenga. Pharisees
These religions have been responsible for some of the worst atrocities in human history. Crusades, Jihads, rapes, pillage and plunder, cutting of limbs, burning alive of “heretics” etc… since the beginning of time. They have no moral authority. Let them continue fighting over billboards, sale of pork or liquor, and other such issues.
They have no right to dictate what a woman selects to do with her body. No right at all.
🤔It’s Mind boggling that man as advanced in technology and development as he is . The only solution, he could come Up with to control deep moral and cultural issues relating to Teenage Pregnancies and unwanted pregnancies was to reduce the woman Womb to become a grave. Does two types of water come from one spring. Why should the womb of a woman be treated as both garden as well as a grave. Are we surprised some of the problems we have now including the advocating of this barbaric law May be INDEEED IT STARTED IN THE WOMB , which… Read more »
hopefully you or your family gets raped. then you will know
Fact of the matter is females are still accessing unsafe abortion services and losing their lives or incuring bodily damage in the process. Legalizing is not promoting anything or murdering anyone, it is a way of creating a safer enviromment for those who wish to access those services who will do so regardless
Ignorant people legal abortion should be a right of a woman to choose and to provide women the safety of such a procedure. Do these people honestly think Abortions are not being proformed now?
I am also wondering
It’s not the first time to table this stupid discussion in the Parliament. Why bringing it again. Th abortion should be carried only with Medical personnel who are well trained when the is gross malformation and only if the fetus is endangering the life of the mother. Not kugopangapo njira zonse zakulerazi tiziti azimayi sazimva kapena kuziona. Padzikhaladi chitsimikizo ku chokera kwa madokotala atatu ndipo a siyine kuti achoka chifukwa ziwirizo. Otherwise zikambani zogula zofunda mzipatala ndi zakudya zabwino ndi mankhwala osati nyasizo. Kenakono muyamba zokambirana za zokwatirana sex imodzi zoti anakambambo kale. A khrisitu kanitsi tsani zopusazo. Zokambirana zasowa… Read more »
Akagwere! A woman should have the right over her own body. Whether or not the pregnancy arose from rape, incest, or just plain passionate sex, she should be the one to decide whether or not she wants to take it to term. We don’t need religious leaders or any other person for that matter coming yavi-yavi, demanding that women should have unwanted kids. It’s especially insulting for men to demand that women shouldn’t exercise sovereignty over their bodies. Mxii! Ase!
No way we as a nation can accept this barbaric laws to be passed in parliament. We will not accept at all costs even if it means to go on the streets and demonstrate.
This is another form of infanticide. As long we stop respecting life, what will follow is correspondeding increase in homicide and genocide. Parliament should reject the temptation to legalise such bad practices.
This is a welcome development. Let the mother be in a space where she can properly love and cherish her child. Who amongst us can love a child born out of abuse.