MALAWI: “If You Fail, the Faith Community Fails,” Public Affairs Committee Tells State President
Monsignor Dr. Patrick Thawale at State House with State President Rev. Dr. Lazarous Chakwera
Sam Kalimba
A quasi-religious body Public Affairs Committee (PAC) in Malawi through its chairperson Monsignor Dr. Patrick Thawale has told the country’s State President the realities of his administration in a manner that most commentators in the country described as very diplomatic.
He started by reminding the State President how in 2020 his government created a unique ray of hope of transformational leadership as the country departed from the previous regime.
“Frustrations among Malawians were consigned to the past hoping that the time had come to reverse transactional leadership. Transformative leadership was seen as the only option for your administration based on the pledges made. That Your Excellency had risen from our fraternity to the highest office, our conviction and trust in your leadership was unshakable. You became a source of pride. Different narratives emerged at the time. Some argued that a clergy cannot run the country as politics is not his domain. Some of us took the contrary view. We felt that most issues of political governance could be closer to your heart, and that your decision making would be swift, supported by a revamped public service populated by qualified technocrats,” explained Thawale.
PAC is a grouping of non-state actors led by faith leaders and some influential concerned citizens that holds an incumbent government accountable on behalf of the citizenry.
The PAC Chair was speaking during an interface meeting with the State President of the Republic of Malawi, who is also faith leader Rev. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on 28th November, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Kamuzu palace, Lilongwe. He said that the intention of PAC was only to share observations on the state of affairs of the country.
Mgr. Thawale further said that PAC deliberately raised the issues on how the President was viewed prior and just after taking office for him to appreciate the critical juncture of his leadership style.
“Indeed, Your Excellency you inspired Malawians with your inaugural speech. You motivated everybody. Currently, that positive narrative is quickly shifting from bad to worse largely because of your inconsistences and delays in execution of actions and decisions in the administration and management of the economy, the public sector, the rule of law and governance in general. Your Excellency’s administrative policy mix as articulated in the Malawi Congress Party (governing lead party) manifesto has been unsatisfactory and at times retrogressive, uncertain and risky” he told the President.
Later, the PAC chairman presented their observations surrounding economy, cabinet and public service appointments, corruption and the rule of law, Tonse Alliance administration, and Affordable Input Programme (AIP).
PAC through Rev. Fr. Thawale concluded by advising the State President on what should be done despite the devaluation his government effected. He said that the devaluation was a symptom of his actions, omissions and decisions pursued in the administration of state affairs.
“Your Excellency, you may have been insensitive to the complaints and pieces of advice from stakeholders leading to the perception that the Tonse Administration seems to be clueless. Your Excellency have no choice but to act decisively on some recommendations made in order to jump-start the economy. Malawians are crying out there. The poor are starving. The country is lacking message of hope on the current economic terrain. We cannot maintain the status quo or else we create room for civil strife,” advised Thawale.
He also advised the President to consider appointing 15 Cabinet Ministers from the current 33 with statecraft that can back him up, redeem the situation and reverse negative perceptions, supported by the new Secretary to the President and Cabinet. He also called for decisiveness and fastness to respond to crucial issues from the State President to ensure that his leadership legacy lives to be remembered. He said that the law gives him all the powers to swiftly make decisions of the state.
“You may need to seriously consider your approach. Otherwise, the populace is becoming fade up. Your success will be our success – so too, if you fail, the faith community fails,” he concluded.
PAC was founded in 1992 to enter dialogue with government. PAC has since carried on as an umbrella organisation for the major faith mother bodies in the country. These faith mother bodies are the Muslim Association of Malawi, the Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi, the Malawi Council of Churches, the Evangelical Association of Malawi and the Episcopal Conference of Malawi.
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