Mutharika, Chilima absence at PAC prayers missed opportunity to unify Malawi — Analyst
A political analyst has described as a missed opportunity for unity the absence of President Peter Mutharika and UTM Party president Saulos Chilima at Public Affairs Committee (PAC) initiated peace prayers.
The prayers were held Saturday at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe to ask divine intervention ahead of the ruling on the election court case.
An associate professor of public administration at Chancellor College of the University of Malawi, Happy Kayuni said the absence of the two key leaders during the prayers sent a wrong message that the two politicians are not willing to see change.
“Their presence would have sent a message to their supporters and other people that they are committed to promoting peace,” said Kayuni.
He continued:“Even if they inwardly did not believe in the event, they should have attended. That would have sent a powerful message – that they care about peace and they care about Malawi. In politics such gesture matter a lot and whatever the reason, this is a lost opportunity.”
Vice president Everton Chimulirenji represented the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at the prayers which were also attended by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera.
But organisers of the prayers said even without Mutharika and Chilima, the purpose of the event was served.
PAC Chairperson, Reverend Dr Felix Chingota said the prayers were organized to foster peace, upholding of rule of law and religious co-existence.
He said after the court ruling violence should not be an option because the ruling can go in favor of only one party and not both.
Chingota said this was the time that Malawians should call upon God to intervene so that the public should respect the rule of law.
He said despite any differences people mihht have, peaceful mechanisms have to be employed for dialogue to take place whenever there are misunderstandings.
” These prayers call upon respecting one another, the court case should not be the end for everything, interactons among different people of political backgrounds has to go on for the development of the country,” he said.
UN resident coordinator Maria Jose Torres said there was need for Malawians to learn settle disputes peacefully.
In attendance were other presidential contenders in the May 21 elections; Umodzi Party President John Chisi, leader for Mbakuwaku Movement for Development Peter Kuwani and Independent candidate Reverend Kaliya.
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Chilima was right not to attend these so called prayers of peace and I will tell you why…
Before the elections, PAC led Malawians in another national day of worship to ask God for peaceful free and fair elections but obviously those prayers were not answered, if they were answered then we would not have been where we are now……awaiting a court ruling on vote rigging allegations.
After the post Election Day of worship that PAC led us into hoping that God will answer our prayers, we have ended up with two policemen dead, buildings burnt down, msundwe women raped, shops rooted, communities divided, petrol bombs thrown, shots fired, all this post election violence happened after a great day of worship.
If God did not answer our prayers to make the election peaceful free and fair in the first place what makes you think that God will use his remote control button to change people’s hearts to be peaceful after the court ruling this time?
I don’t want to go into a debate on whether God does exist or not or whether he has the powers to make our elections free and fare or not.
The point I would like to make is that Malawians should stop running away or escaping from solving self inflicted problems by trying to appear as a God fearing people.
God already gave us a brain to know what is wrong and what is right and he gave us the ability to make decisions on how to solve problems or how to behave in situations where decisions made by the courts have gone against our will.
What we need is to strengthen our electoral laws and MEC procedures to make sure there are no loop holes for ruling parties or anybody else to rig elections.
We need an independent police that can work apolitically to deal with political violence regardless on whether the perpetrators are DPP cadets or not……you do not need God to do this….it is common sense and if Malawians lacks this common sense then do not waste your time with these so called national day of prayers because there will not be any other answers from God other than the ones you already have.
I think Chilima didn’t missed anything for that fake prayers,. Maybe that coward you call Peter Mutharika ’cause he needs deliverance so he can stop corrupt this country. And l don’t trust these old people you call PAC group,. These people are dangerous they can kill silently in the name of that peace talk. Let’s find other way to bring peace in this country,. Not these old Animals we call PAC they are very greed on Money so Malawians do not believe these people. I love Malawi.
Poor analysiss and misleading. DPP and utm were not absent since they had representatives. Inu mukuti nidnu wophunzira sometimes u r the ones taking malawi in a wrong direction. be constructive my dear analyst ok?
UDF and PP have more than 4 MPs UTM has so why are you not regretting the absence of Atupele and JB?
Chubu ngati chili chobooka olo mungapope bwanji nkumbwambwana kuchidalira paulendo.
Prayers don’t work. We need to stop praying and focusing aggressively confronting these thieves who have overrun our country. If god cared, he would have already prevented this but he doesn’t care. Which is typical of him.
Satanic comments!!!
..missed opportunity? Thus retrogressive thinking. Negative analyst..we need Positive analysis in Malawi.
Exactly there was no missed opportunity APM delegated his VP and there was representation of their parties.
Has ansah resigned ??
Before election others like Chakwera was there pretending to be prayerfull.What picture has he given.Mfiti ndi mfiti basi.