MALAWI: Public Affairs Committee Cautions Head of State on Issues of National Concern
Andrew Kaufa, smm
The all-inclusive quasi-religious body, Public Affairs Committee (PAC) in Malawi, has held an interface meeting with the State President Rev. Dr Lazarus Chakwera in an effort to engage with the Tonse Alliance government into dialogue on issues of national concern.
Addressing the Head of State at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on August 6, PAC chairman Rev. Dr Patrick Thawale highlighted to President Chakwera issues which included the cabinet size and composition, the fight against Covid-19 pandemic; corruption, public sector reform and the electoral and Constitutional reforms.
“Your Excellency, your appointment of cabinet members may have left a dent in your administration. We are aware that you attempted to clarify the matter by stating that cabinet members will be assessed and were appointed on merit, and that in 5 months period the cabinet could be changed. Malawians will wait for your action since you promised them,” said PAC chairman on behalf of the organization.
On government response to Covid-19, PAC has appreciated government for raising awareness on the serious of the pandemic adding, “Your regular updates on efforts the Government is making to arrest the pandemic are inspiring and commendable. They are encouraging the public to be responsive to preventive measures.”
PAC has urged the Head of State to deal with vice. “Your Excellency, PAC strongly condemned corruption in a statement entitled ‘Unfulfilled Promises and Deep-rooted Corruption’ issued on August 6, 2017.
Emphasizing the need for public reforms, PAC has commended the President for the initiatives already taken since he assumed office.
“We call upon Your Excellency and your Vice President to make public sector reform a reality for the first time in the history of Malawi,” said PAC Rev. Dr Thawale adding, “More serious has been the lack of implementing the Constitutional review recommendations made by the Malawi Law Commission in 2007.
However, PAC has warned the President on factors that made the previous leaderships fail to deliver on their promises for transformative leadership. These are executive arrogance against those who express divergent views; deliberate disregard of the rule of law and the tendency of the presidents to have what they called ‘a backyard cabinet’.
Since its establishment in 1992, the organization’s objectives have been “to encourage religious bodies to fulfill their prophetic and religious roles and respond to the socio-economic and political affairs of the country; to maintain dialogue regarding issues of concern to the nation; to promote peace and tranquility; to promote respect for rule of law, education in principals of democracy and respect of human rights.”
PAC highlighted to President Chakwera that since 2001, the organization has made a number of public dialogue interventions, lobbied and advocated for holding public officers and political leaders’ accountable.
PAC also has facilitated and mediated initiatives for peace building, participated in local level conflict management, civic education and election observation.
