CCAP BT Synod in the Dark

The Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) says it is still in the dark over who President Peter Mutharika has appointed to represent him at its 150th anniversary celebrations today, Saturday.

The confusion follows conflicting information naming Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister George Chaponda and Second Vice-President Enock Chihana as the President’s representative.

Speaking to MIJ Online, the Synod’s General Secretary, Reverend Anderson Juma, said they were initially informed that Chaponda would represent the President at the event.

However, Juma said the church later received another phone call indicating that Chihana had been delegated to represent Mutharika.

The conflicting communication has left the Synod uncertain about who will attend the main event as guest of honour.

Juma has since asked the Office of the President to clarify who Mutharika has officially appointed.

Chaponda’s Special Assistant, Thomas Psyata, had earlier confirmed that the minister had been delegated to represent the President.

Psyata said the decision was in line with austerity measures introduced by Mutharika to reduce government expenditure through smaller presidential entourages.

Meanwhile, Dave Gadama, Press Officer in the Second Vice-President’s Office, also confirmed that Chihana would represent the President at the anniversary celebrations.

The celebrations mark 150 years since Scottish missionary Henry Henderson established Blantyre Mission in 1876.

The programme began on Friday with a tour of the historic mission premises, where former Synod General Secretary the Very Reverend Professor Silas Ncozana, British theology professor Reverend Kenneth Ross and historian Crispin Ng’oma narrated the church’s history.

Ncozana described Blantyre Mission as “the cradle of Blantyre City”, noting that the city was named after Blantyre in Scotland, the birthplace of missionary and explorer Dr David Livingstone.

Juma said the anniversary offered the church an opportunity to reflect on its history and plan for the future, particularly in education and healthcare.

The Blantyre Synod, which covers areas from Ntcheu to Nsanje, has more than 640 congregations, 1,080 prayer houses and about two million members.

Its institutions include 102 early childhood development centres, 180 primary schools, 38 government-assisted secondary schools, six private mission secondary schools, a nursing college and the University of Blantyre Synod. It also operates healthcare facilities in several districts.