Claim for Malawi regime change plot: Chingota, Mulomole linked

The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) is said to be advancing a strategy to force out the democratically elected administration of President Peter Mutharika, with PAC Chairperson Reverend Felix Chingota, the organisation’s spokesperson Fr. Peter Mulomole and Executive Director Robert Phiri linked in the regime change push.

Chingota is a senior clerk in the Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAP) and Mulomole a priest in the Zomba Diocese of the Catholic Church.

According to a senior member of the grouping, the trio has been coxing other members of the organization to be steadfast in ensuring that President Mutharika is removed from office within weeks.

Sentiments by the three PAC officials in the organisation’s executive committee meetings have resulted in the division of the grouping with some members calling for dialogue with government.

On 7th February this year, Nyasa Times reported  about another plot for  a regime change in Malawi which linked United State diplomat Virginia Palmer.

The report was vehemently denied by the American envoy  who had that time reportedly  accompanied the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarous Chakwera on a tour of the US.

Change of Strategy

Following a failure to instigate regime change through the PAC Conference held in Blantyre in February, Chingota, Mulomole and Phiri have in the last few weeks been reportedly mobilizing people to go on the streets to hold protests  and ensure the current administration is brought down.

According to a senior member of PAC, the trio is this week expected to meet the other two arms of government, the Legislature and Judiciary to seek their backing for the plot.

The Legislature is headed by Speaker Richard Msowoya who is also opposition MCP Vice President and the Judiciary is led by Justice Andrew Nyirenda.

The source, himself part of the PAC team further disclosed that on Wednesday, 1st June, 2016 the three officials have set up a meeting with the Speaker in Lilongwe where they are to concertize the plan to overthrow the government.

On Thursday, the 2nd of June, team will travel to Blantyre where another appointment has been set with Justice Andrew Nyirenda.

According to the informant, the team together with the opposition MCP has agreed to front Chakwera as the country’s interim leader between this year and 2019 when the next elections will be held.

When contacted for comment, PAC Spokesperson Mulomole said that whatever plans the organization is pursuing are in the interest of Malawians.

“The people of Malawi gave us a mandate to lead PAC and we are only making sure that their wishes are fulfilled,” he said in a telephone interview from his base in Zomba.

According to the PAC Constitution, both Chingota and Mulomole’s term of office expire in a month’s time .

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