Police court clergy on increased suicide cases in MW

The request was made during a meeting organised by the Area 23 community policing branch at the Area 23 Police Unit parameters.

Malawi: Police in Kawale, Lilongwe, on November 9, 2022, urged clergymen in Area 23 to join them in the fight against the reigning spirit of committing suicide due to financial and marital difficulties, according to Kawale Police Station PRO, Sub Inspector Mabvuto Phiri.

The request was made during a meeting organised by the Area 23 community policing branch at the Area 23 Police Unit parameters.

During the meeting, Senior Superintendent Tinyade Pahuwa bemoaned the rising number of people taking their own lives and urged the men of God present to consider addressing the issue of suicide during church services.

"We are very concerned about the suicide figures, despite our interventions in the fight against malpractices," Pahuwa said. "That is why we are here to seek your indulgence in joining us by spreading the message to your congregants during church services."

The clergymen were also encouraged to welcome everyone by holding seminars and counselling sessions with their church members, including the youth, as a forum for them to express their concerns.

Inspector Funny Majoni, Area 23 Police Unit Community Policing Coordinator, urged the men of God in attendance to preach against mob justice and to teach their church members about business and farming in order to increase their financial capacities.

Majoni also advised prophets in the area to avoid sensitive or false prophecies that lead to mob justice and the breaking of family ties.

Pastor Yobu Banda of the Baptist Church agreed with Majoni and promised to implement various business strategies such as having a savings account and providing soft loans to its members.

"We have preached enough about eternal life while neglecting day-to-day life, which has forced our congregants to fall into bad loans, thus dying inside; now it is time for believers to undergo a financial revolution, and let us assist them in doing so," Pastor Banda said.

Pastors and Prophets from various denominations, including CCAP, Apostolic Faith Mission, and Baptist Church, attended the meeting and assured the police that they would preach and spread the message to their congregations.