A Seventh-day Adventist delegation has met senior police and municipal leadership in Blantyre over two days of courtesy visits aimed at strengthening the Church's partnership with public institutions in Malawi.

The engagements, held on 18 and 19 August 2026, were facilitated by the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) Department of the Malawi Union Conference, with the participation of Dr. Pako Mokgwane, PARL Director of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID).

On 18 August, the delegation visited the South West Police Region Headquarters in Blantyre. Drawing on Romans 13:1 and the biblical responsibility to respect legitimate authority, Mokgwane said the Church wants to work alongside the Malawi Police Service in addressing social challenges and building peaceful communities.

"The Church must not exist in isolation from the challenges facing our communities," Mokgwane said. "We want to be a partner in building peaceful, responsible, and morally strong communities."

Commissioner Lovemore Mwabumba, responsible for the South West Police Region, welcomed the initiative and expressed the Police Service's willingness to collaborate with the Church on crime reduction and social problems. He challenged the Church to use its spiritual influence to speak against social ills and to encourage responsible citizenship among its members, and tasked Assistant Commissioner Dzimbiri, responsible for regional operations, with facilitating cooperation between police officers and Adventist congregations at various levels.

The following day, the delegation visited the Blantyre City offices, where they were received by Chief Executive Officer Costly Chanza. Mokgwane affirmed the Church's willingness to support initiatives contributing to the development and well-being of the city.

Chanza welcomed the approach and encouraged Adventist congregations and institutions to work within city regulations while contributing to making Blantyre a better place for its residents. He also affirmed the City's commitment to working with religious organisations and to maintaining an environment conducive to the free exercise of religion.

During both visits, Mokgwane outlined Adventist initiatives available to support community development, including enditnow, the Church's campaign against violence and abuse; Youth Alive, which addresses at-risk behaviour among young people; the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA); and the NEWSTART and CELEBRATIONS health programmes, which promote preventive health and holistic wellbeing.

The visits form part of a wider pattern of Adventist PARL engagement across the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division in recent weeks, including an audience with Angola's National Assembly President in Luanda.