Hopewell Chin'ono. Photo:Courtesy
Veteran Zimbabwean investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has sparked debate online after sharply criticising Malawi’s leadership for reportedly calling for national prayers to seek rain amid a prolonged dry spell.
In a social media post, Chin’ono took aim at President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika and Vice President Jane Ansah, arguing that turning to prayer in the face of water shortages reflects governance failure rather than faith.
Chin’ono said while prayer has its place, asking God for rain in Malawi’s case ignores basic science and geography.
He noted that Malawi is home to Lake Malawi, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, holding an estimated 8,400 cubic kilometres of water.
“The water is already there and in abundance,” Chin’ono argued, insisting that Malawi’s problem is not lack of rain but failure to invest in infrastructure to move water from the lake to farms, towns and cities.
He listed pipelines, pumping stations, irrigation canals, treatment plants and a national distribution network as the real solutions to drought-related disruptions in agriculture and water supply.
According to Chin’ono, Malawi would need about US$3 billion to pipe lake water across the country — an amount he contrasted with claims that Malawi loses about US$1.5 billion annually to corruption.
In one of his most shared remarks, Chin’ono stated that “prayers do not lay pipes” and “church services do not construct irrigation schemes,” adding that religion is often misused in Africa to mask incompetence and corruption by political elites.
He cited the Salima–Lilongwe Water Supply Project, estimated to cost about US$315 million, as proof that transferring water from Lake Malawi inland is both practical and affordable.
Chin’ono also drew comparisons with Israel and Ethiopia, countries he said invested heavily in water and energy infrastructure to shield their economies from climate shocks.
He referenced Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as an example of leadership choosing engineering solutions over religious appeals.
While Malawi is a deeply religious nation and national prayers are common during crises, Chin’ono’s comments have reignited debate on social media about leadership, accountability and whether faith is being used to substitute policy action.