The First Lady, Her Excellency Professor Gertrude Mutharika has been hailed for taking a leading role in the restoration and conservation of the environment through the Beautify Malawi, BEAM initiative.
Taking turns on the pulpit on the theme ‘All God’s Creation is very Good’ during Women’s World Day of Prayer held on Friday at the Silver Stadium in Lilongwe, preachers called women across the country to support and replicate the initiative in their respective communities for maximum impact.
“You are lucky in Malawi because I am well aware that the First Lady of this country is already leading a mission to make this country beautiful through her Beautify Malawi. This initiative requires our support. This is a good initiative that is ensuring that trees are planted, making the environment clean, restoring the beautiful nature as was created by God,” said one preacher.
The theme for this year’s prayers “All God’s Creation is very Good”, was chosen by women of Suriname, a country in South America and were centered around protecting and restoration of the environment to sustain lives.
The Malawi First Lady founded the Beautify Malawi (BEAM) Trust about four years ago to champion good sanitation practices, protection and sustainable use of the environment.
In her address at the event, the First Lady described the destruction that has taken place in the environment as neglect of God given responsibility by human beings, that is to take care of his creation.
The First Lady bemoaned that when nature is destroyed, it is women who bear the consequences more.
“The inadequate rainfall we are experiencing now is a result of the destruction we have caused in the environment. Women now have to travel unbearable long distances to fetch water, firewood and even food.
“Time has come for us to please God by restoring the beautiful nature he created,” She said.
The Chairperson of World Day of Prayer (WDP) in Malawi Esther Grant pledged her organisation’s support towards Beautify Malawi activities.
The offering from this year’s prayers will go towards charity activities in Dedza district.
The Prayers drew together women from various Christian churches across Malawi.