Malawi Cleric Arrested
Received August 21 8:13 am
The General Secretary of the Synod of Livingstonia, Rev. Levi Nyondo was arrested August 20, along with the Synod Moderator Rev. M.M. Banda and the Synod Deputy General Secretary Rev. M.C.E. Munthali. Only Rev. Nyondo has been held and charged and is being kept in a jail cell. To the best of our understanding he has been charged with saying seditious words against the state at the funeral of the Late Honorable Cabinet Minister Chirambo yesterday.
Many ministers of the Synod gathered at Police Headquarters in Mzuzu last night and remain there. Others will gather at the Synod Office this morning. As expatriates we have been advised to stay away from the Police Department and jail and gather with others at the Synod Office if we so choose. Please keep Rev. Nyondo and all in prayer as they seek legal counsel and as people tather for support that all remain peaceful, all will be protected and justice will flow down like an everflowing stream.
Received August 23
Levi Nyondo of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) was arrested on Friday evening, after he allegedly endorsed vice president Joyce Banda for the 2014 presidential election. A court clerk told AFP (African Free Press) that magistrate Justus Kishindo rejected Nyondo's bail application, saying he would "tamper with evidence".
"There was a lot of tension outside court, some good people gathered around and chanted slogans," the clerk said.
Heavily armed riot police guarded the police station where he was held, as dozens of people staged a night of vigil singing and praying.
Received late yesterday:
Good news and Thanks to God and all of you for your support and prayers. At the Court hearing this morning the magistrate ruled that Rev. L.N. Nyondo was granted bail and released before a large gathering of people at St. Andrew's Church around noontime and there was a service of worship with the Moderator preaching and Rev. C.C. Mhango singing.
According to the Nyasatimes, Rev. Nyondo must report to police once a week and must notify police before leaving Mzuzu. The date of the court case is Tuesday, September 14. All has been peaceful. Please continue to keep Rev. L.N. Nyondo, the State President and the people of Malawi in prayer.
Compiled from emails sent by Rev. Debbie Chase and online reports.
Posted: 08-24-10
Updated August 31, 2010
Dear Colleagues in Christ,
Receive greetings and tender regards from the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia. It is our hope that the Lord is guiding you and blessing you each day of your life and work.
As some of you might have heard already, Rev. Levi N. Nyondo, our General Secretary was arrested on Friday 20th August by the Mzuzu Police Officer after rendering a speech at the funeral of late Hon. Moses Chibambo, MP. The police were alleging that he had altered (uttered) seditious words. None of us did share that view with them because we felt Rev. Nyondo was only expressing sorrow on behalf of the person on the deceased and that what he said was totally true. Among other things, he actually was lamenting over the dropping of Late Professor Chibambo over Bingu's* cabinet. He also emphasize on the quota system policy which the Synod has been fighting since its introduction last year.
Following the arrest Rev. Nyondo spent three nights under the police custody. He was granted bail on Monday 23rd August 2010 with our second application presented by our lawyers. He has been given conditions like:
~reporting to the Regional Police Headquarters once a week
~ a bail bond of K100,000 in assets (Currently $666.67 US)
~ surrender his passport to the police and report to the same when he travels outside Mzuzu
~ report once in two weeks after a month
~ be available when a case commences on 14th September 2010.
Rev. Nyondo's arrest will be discussed fully during the forthcoming Synod Assembly where we hope we will come up with an official reaction and or Press Release. However, the Synod Secretariat feels that Rev. Nyondo's arrest is a deliberate attempt to supress freedom of our young democracy, a move that will draw back to one party era. Surely, right minded Malawians and those who love peace would not want to see another dictator in our beautiful Malawi. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from within and outside Malawi. All of which indicates that Malawians are tired of a dictatorial tendencies.
We are calling upon all partners and friends to join us in prayers as we stand for the truth and attempt to safeguard our constitutional freedoms in Malawi. We will continue to pray our prophetic and advisory role to the government wherever and whenever necessary without fear for favour. You may want to write to Rev. Nyondo through this email address (solinia@malawi.net) or call him on (265) 888-392-711. I am sure he will need your encouragement and moral support.
We will keep you updated in the course of time in regard to the Synod's stand on Rev. Nyondo's arrest and how the case will progress.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. M.C.E. Munthali
Deputy General Secretary
* Bingu wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi
Many ministers of the Synod gathered at Police Headquarters in Mzuzu last night and remain there. Others will gather at the Synod Office this morning. As expatriates we have been advised to stay away from the Police Department and jail and gather with others at the Synod Office if we so choose. Please keep Rev. Nyondo and all in prayer as they seek legal counsel and as people tather for support that all remain peaceful, all will be protected and justice will flow down like an everflowing stream.
*****
Received August 23
Levi Nyondo of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) was arrested on Friday evening, after he allegedly endorsed vice president Joyce Banda for the 2014 presidential election. A court clerk told AFP (African Free Press) that magistrate Justus Kishindo rejected Nyondo's bail application, saying he would "tamper with evidence".
"There was a lot of tension outside court, some good people gathered around and chanted slogans," the clerk said.
Heavily armed riot police guarded the police station where he was held, as dozens of people staged a night of vigil singing and praying.
Received late yesterday:
Good news and Thanks to God and all of you for your support and prayers. At the Court hearing this morning the magistrate ruled that Rev. L.N. Nyondo was granted bail and released before a large gathering of people at St. Andrew's Church around noontime and there was a service of worship with the Moderator preaching and Rev. C.C. Mhango singing.
According to the Nyasatimes, Rev. Nyondo must report to police once a week and must notify police before leaving Mzuzu. The date of the court case is Tuesday, September 14. All has been peaceful. Please continue to keep Rev. L.N. Nyondo, the State President and the people of Malawi in prayer.
Compiled from emails sent by Rev. Debbie Chase and online reports.
Posted: 08-24-10
*****
Updated August 31, 2010
Dear Colleagues in Christ,
Receive greetings and tender regards from the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia. It is our hope that the Lord is guiding you and blessing you each day of your life and work.
As some of you might have heard already, Rev. Levi N. Nyondo, our General Secretary was arrested on Friday 20th August by the Mzuzu Police Officer after rendering a speech at the funeral of late Hon. Moses Chibambo, MP. The police were alleging that he had altered (uttered) seditious words. None of us did share that view with them because we felt Rev. Nyondo was only expressing sorrow on behalf of the person on the deceased and that what he said was totally true. Among other things, he actually was lamenting over the dropping of Late Professor Chibambo over Bingu's* cabinet. He also emphasize on the quota system policy which the Synod has been fighting since its introduction last year.
Following the arrest Rev. Nyondo spent three nights under the police custody. He was granted bail on Monday 23rd August 2010 with our second application presented by our lawyers. He has been given conditions like:
~reporting to the Regional Police Headquarters once a week
~ a bail bond of K100,000 in assets (Currently $666.67 US)
~ surrender his passport to the police and report to the same when he travels outside Mzuzu
~ report once in two weeks after a month
~ be available when a case commences on 14th September 2010.
Rev. Nyondo's arrest will be discussed fully during the forthcoming Synod Assembly where we hope we will come up with an official reaction and or Press Release. However, the Synod Secretariat feels that Rev. Nyondo's arrest is a deliberate attempt to supress freedom of our young democracy, a move that will draw back to one party era. Surely, right minded Malawians and those who love peace would not want to see another dictator in our beautiful Malawi. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from within and outside Malawi. All of which indicates that Malawians are tired of a dictatorial tendencies.
We are calling upon all partners and friends to join us in prayers as we stand for the truth and attempt to safeguard our constitutional freedoms in Malawi. We will continue to pray our prophetic and advisory role to the government wherever and whenever necessary without fear for favour. You may want to write to Rev. Nyondo through this email address (solinia@malawi.net) or call him on (265) 888-392-711. I am sure he will need your encouragement and moral support.
We will keep you updated in the course of time in regard to the Synod's stand on Rev. Nyondo's arrest and how the case will progress.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. M.C.E. Munthali
Deputy General Secretary
* Bingu wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi
Greetings from Livingstonia, Republic of Malawi
I just heard from them today that I will be able to use their computer that has internet, and so I am trying to write before I go to their office so that I can copy and paste, rather than writing this email in front of the computer. So please understand my hasty writing.
Things in Livingstonia, maybe in all of Malawi, are very "organic". There is no set rule or time. People work upon availabilities. Planning to do something is very hard. Even electricity is not stable.
It has been a long time since I have been able to experience anything high-tech, especially the internet. We have been here for more than two weeks, and today is the first time that I have had access to the internet up on this plateau. The General Office of the Synod allowed me to use it for a short time, and I am so grateful for their kindness. If they permit me to do so, I may be able to update our status on the plateau every Tuesday, however, no guaranteed.
First of all, thank you for all your prayers and support on our work at the University of Livingstonia. With God's grace, we are doing well with our daily classes. I am teaching from 8:00am till 4:30pm, with a lunch break, Monday through Thursday, and only mornings on Fridays. Each class has 4 students and each class has a lab component as well. They have just had their first exam, and the results were great! They work very hard. I am so happy to be able to interact with the students in various functions. We have done many things together; ate lunch, walked to the local landmarks, watched a movie, and discussed selected topics. It was hard to open their minds at first, but once they started talking, I was able to see that they are just like any other students who are curious and eager to learn about the subject matter and about people living outside of Africa.
I have been able to visit nearby villages, and found that people are very friendly to foreigners. They do not recognize me as an Asian, rather just as any other white man. Kids are very active. They do not hesitate to come to me and say a couple of words to get a response from me. Whenever they notice that I have a camera, they gather around me asking to take pictures of them.
I have seen and heard so many things, and I am not able to summarize them all at this time. I will try to be more organized next time when I write again.
Blessings,
Jae-Ho and Emily Kim