Human rights – the tension and conflict between church and state in Malawi: 2004-2012

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.