State House hits back at PAC
State House has described as unfortunate and irresponsible the call by Public Affairs Committee (PAC) that President Bingu Mutharika should not assent to the Local Government Bill which was passed in the recently ended parliament sitting.
In a statement issued by State House signed by Presidential Legal Counsel, Allan Ntata (pictured), says it is not important to prioritise an interest that has already been served by other means.
PAC in pursuant of its mandate as a church based watchdog on public affairs, issued a statement in which it raised a number of issues ranging from forex shortages, fuel shortages, presidential term extension plans, local government polls and education quota system.
But State House has s accused PAC of simply expressing a wholesale of criticism on the Mutharika administration aimed at raising tension in the country.
”This administration wishes to remind PAC that the system of government sanctioned by the Republican Constitution is that of popular representative democracy through universal suffrage and not mindless pluralism.
”As such, the constitution is more under threat when civil society organisations begin to flirt over the majority situation of the democratically elected government and begins to call for unconstitutional wide ranging consultations regarding to issues of administrative policy,” Ntata said in his statement.
The State House accuses PAC of attempting to usurp constitutionally given powers of the National Assembly by trying to sabotage the local government bill by giving it provocative labels and suggesting that it was passed in bad faith.
Ntata further challenged PAC on university quota system pointing out that if Malawians are against the policy, they should better introduce the subject in the National Assembly through their elected MPs if they want their views to be heard.
”PAC’s consternation seems to emanate from their discomfort with the DPP majority in parliament,” reads the five page press statement in part.
The statement further says the consultative process being advocated by PAC overlooks the fact that the Republican Constitution clearly gives the government of the day to formulate policies and implement them for as long as it has the mandate of the people.
Turning to the Presidential tenure, the State House accuses PAC of making an issue on a point that has no substantiation.
”We caution PAC to refrain from making emotionally charged comments on a matter of which their only source of information is unsubstantiated media report. In commenting as such a matter PAC reveals a paediatric mindset that is disturbing for an organ priding itself as a church based watchdog for public affairs.”
State House also alleges that by issuing a statement and commenting on fuel scarcity which has stalled the country’s most crucial operations, PAC seeks to score cheap public support points.
”We note with regard to the fuel issue, PAC is commenting on a matter in a manner designed to incite the public to blame the administration for problems that are not entirely administrative but rather only commercial.
”It is worth noting that PAC have deliberately chosen to ignore the numerous explanations that have been given to the public through various media but instead chose to argue that this government is responsible. We entirely suggest that in the spirit of constructive co-operation it would behove PAC to present to the public a full picture of the situation including government position and explanations on the matter,” State House advises.
Tagged with: Allan Ntata, forex, fuel, Local government elections, PAC, State House
Old Article more than 4 months. Comment is closed.
