The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, arrived on Thursday afternoon in Blantyre, Malawi at the start of his visit to the Church of the Province of Central Africa. He was greeted by a Mothers’ Union Choir and later visited a MU Literacy Project and sustainable farming programme.
The Archbishop was given a warm greeting by Bishop James Tengatenga and Archbishop Albert Chama at Chileka Airport. Dr Williams stepped straight off the plane into a brief press conference, in which he thanked the Malawi Church for the honour of the invitation and expressed his deep gratitude at being able to celebrate with them the 150th anniversary of a Church that was founded and still works for human dignity for all:
“The Church today in this country still plays a deeply significant part in community development, in education, in grassroots agricultural development, in the empowerment of women and young people – I am here to give thanks to God, with you, for all that work. I am here to pray with you for a Church that will continue responding to God’s call in that way in the future, and to learn from what you do as I go around and visit various projects in different parts of the country.”
Dr Williams was then treated to a traditional display of singing and dancing before heading off to begin his visit, starting with a prayer at the shrine of Bishop Charles Mackenzie located in St Paul’s Cathedral, Blantyre.
Archbishop Williams discussed the Anglican church’s involvement in economic and agriculture projects with Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika.
“I talked about how sustainable agriculture methods should be developed and I am glad our church is involved in this,” said Williams, who is visiting Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia from 5-13 October.
Dr Williams is also taking part in the 150th anniversary of the Anglican Church in Malawi, which has a membership of about one million and was the first Protestant church to come to the country, according to Bishop James Tengatenga, chairman of the Anglican Council in Malawi.
In Thyolo, 30 km south of Malawi’s commercial capital of Blantyre, Williams toured church projects such as a Mothers’ Union literacy circle. The Mothers’ Union also plays a key part in developing sustainable farming methods in rural communities, enabling local women to create agricultural and animal husbandry businesses.
Dr Williams also discussed with Mutharika the need for open and transparent government as a way to end the political turmoil in Malawi. “I am very happy that there is dialogue between government and the civil society organizations on this,” he said.
The meeting came two months after police cracked down on anti-government protesters angry with economic and governance policies that they said created shortages in foreign currency and fuel.