PAC ‘has just romanced the devil’, says Malawi flagship newspaper: Cancelled protests dominate headlines
The postponed nationwide demonstrations organised by Public Affairs Committee (PAC) to push for electoral reforms slated for December 13 following government’s turnaround to table bills in parliament took center stage in the local press on Wednesday with Malawi’s flagship daily newspaper saying the decision to call off protests has just made an oppressive President Peter Mutharika’s regime “even stronger.”
Just a day before the nationwide protests against governments, PAC chairperson Felix Chingota told a news conference in Lilongwe that the decision to suspend was made at a three-hour meeting the faith-based organisation held in the capital on Monday night.
He said the board meeting focused on whether to proceed with the civil action after government circulated what is largely considered as an adulterated Electoral Reforms bill as Mutharika’s cabinet has decided to extend the contentious 50+1 provision—which proposes a run-off when the winning presidential candidate fails to scoop at least half of the votes cast—to members of Parliament (MPs) and councillorship elections.
In its editorial on Wednesday, the Daily Times newspaper, said Malawians were willing to join in the “grand peaceful march” to express national discontentment as the protests would have an extension of issues to highlight including electricity crisis and an array of governance issues, including calls for an end to ruling party’s monopoly of the state-run Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.
The paper saidthe faith-based organisation seem to have forgotten that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government it is putting faith in has “a way of being crooked” and has no respects for pacts.
Evidence, the paper said, is the “butchered” piece of legislation on electoral system that government has circulated in Parliament.
The daily said PAC “must not be naive” to start believing that the DPP is an honest party and wants to see the electoral reforms bills passed as recommended by the special Law Commission.
“PAC will realise soon that it has, advertently or not, been part of the scheme to kill Malawians’ dreams of having perfect electoral laws as well as a chance to epress their disillusionment,” reads the editorial.
It noted that the quasi-religious oragnaisation has found “ a partner in the political devil.”
The paper says PAC need to have a serious “soul searching” before it slips into oblivion, saying they are at pains to believe the discourse in some quarters that the governance watchdog is steadily losing credence and relevance.
The paper lead story headlined ‘ PAC faulted’ with sub titles: ‘Cancels demonstrations’ and ‘Govt complied –PAC’
But political scientist Ernest Thindwa based at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College in Zomba said the purpose of the protests was ro force government table the electoral reforms bills and now that the Bills are in Parliament, PAC is right to cancel the demonstrations.
“I want to believe the threat of demonstrations has compelled the government to table the bills,” Thindwa said.
During the news conference, Chingota who was accompanied by PAC executive committee members and some board members, said the body will keep monitoring events in the National Assembly.
He said PAC may “reignite” the calls for demonstrations if government stops the tabling of the bills.
“Members took time to examine the above requests and noted that 5 out 6 bills have been debated this week. It was however observed that the government brought some new changes to the bills, especially on 50+1 which now extends to MPs and Councillors. We note this was not part of the Law Commission report.
“We further observe that the Local Government Act reforms have not reached Parliament. The latter for us still remains crucial to improvement of service delivery in the country. The approach taken by government to introduce changes to the bills that were not anticipated demonstrates bad intention on their part,” Chingota told journalists.
Several churches including the influential Catholic church, Anglican Church, CCAP, Malawi Council of Churches and civil society groups gave their full support to PAC protests.
The proposed laws drew the wrath of civil society players who feel the Executive deliberately veered off from the recommendations of the law commission to restrict the 50+1 clause to the presidential race only.
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We are in support of the postponement. We know that some of you just wanted to loot and raze down Lomwe properties including those vehicles with TO letters. Mwauponda. We can’t allow that. You may as well stop drinking tea from our bushes if that’s the kind of attitude you get everytime you feel aggrieved. That’s cowardice. Just come forward and we will exchange some blows.
PAC has shown great wisdom in pausing the demos. We have met the key demands on the electoral reforms and parliament is looking into them. There is nothing we can do about the electricity right now. We accept that we stole too much from the parastatal and apointed incompetent managers loyal to us. We are trying to discuss amongst ourselves in the party that we suspend the stealing to allow for objective intervation by Escom and Engenco against the blackouts so that we can regain whatever piece of sanity is there for us to grip at and allow reasonable investments in the energy sector.
Of course we will not leave Mera and Macra to be run professionally. That would be conceding too much considering that we are approaching 2019. Ofunika kuchitiratu makosana.
This reply is for Kaitano and Nistradamas,
When we talk about elections we talk about the numbers who can make a particular candidate to triumph. If someone wakes up from his sleep and is questioned about who will get more presidential votes in LL district in 2019, obviously even you Kaitano will respond with the name ”Chakwera”. Why? Because this is what is seen and experienced at the ground. And this has been so in the past despite effort from other parties for a change. Kasakula and Kaitano need not to be told that Machinga, Mangochi, Balaka, Zomba have people who are closer to UDF and DPP and a small number to PP. You will agree with me that to them MCP is just another party. The population from these districts even half of those who support UDF can make a DPP CANDIDATE TO WIN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. You cannot deny or doubt about this unless you Kaitano are writing from outside Malawi. MCP is happy with this bill because it thought Chakwera being Leader of Opposition all the opposition parties will vote for him in a re-run. The Nation Newspaper one day quoted some MCP MPs disclosing that even MCP is afraid of this 50+1 bill. This was the time when Chakwera started seeing light and opened his eyes. He knew and still knows that the 50+1 system is a bomb under his feet. DPP camp is full of fast thinkers. They know this will benefit them. But they cannot show their happiness now because they know that what is good for them is bad for the MCP. MCP can change its mind on the bill if it realizes that DPP is very happy with it. That’s why DPP looks somehow resisting on face but I tell you the guys are very happy with it. About the independent voters, I am sure even yourself Kaitano and the bruised Kasakula know that this number don’t count in Malawi votes. What % is the independent votes? They cant change anything, man. Let me hear from you gentlemen. Which side of Malawi will give Chakwera votes to win besides the ones he will get in the first round. Simple and straight forward. Tell me. It does not need someone to be DPP to know how things will be in a re-run. Evidence is everywhere to be seen yet you choose to be blind.
Santana, there is one thing that you are missing.
These reforms are not for any party, agree or not?
This means, its not for M.C.P and or D.P.P agree?
What Malawians want is to see the president being chosen by majority, is it wrong as well?
When we send our Mps to this house, we ask them to do what we as people who voted for them to do, is it true?
Is it wrong to say that the president we have to day, majority of Malawians are not happy with him?
About 60% did not vote for him, is it true? this is what we call underscore, its like to say go and try!
Now what Chakwera has done and or is doing is to make sure that the president should be loved not when he is already in the office but before the he comes to the office, is it wrong? And this is not Chakwera only but also the Public, that is why the representative of the Public called PAC came in, and for your information, even Observers from other Countries have been saying this, is it for Chakwera or for the Nation?
May be you don’t know Chakwera, he has just joined front line politics just now, don’t you think its madness just to see him as a very big person than Malawi?
Mr Santana, i think where i am and how i am, i have passed the level of mine and mine only, i am at the level where i take Malawi as home.
Therefore what ever i think of home, i think of Malawi not where my village is and or my region but as Malawian, that is why i still say these reforms are not for any party, Chakwera or Peter but it is for our own goodness.
When it comes to politics, i can stand now and tell you that Malawi is a state which doesn’t need politicians but good Leadership to change the lives of people who are suffering by very few people who are corrupt.
Where can we find that good leadership? by having a leader who will fight for Malawians not fight with Malawians.
Sorry time up, tithamange lunch yatha.
Good day.
Santana palibe chazeru amalemba kupatula kunyoza Chakwera ndi MCP. Ndiwe Mbuzi yomvetsa chisoni komano tikudziwa ndinu mukudya ndalama zamisonkho yanthu Mokuba ndiwe galu wachabechabe.
Include in the bill term limit for MPs some have overstayed if president is limited in his tenure who is MP to enjoy limit less terms
If ’50+1′ is ‘too expensive’ for the presidential election, why is it not too expensive for the election of the president plus every single MP and councilor?
Again if 50+1 is too expensive for Malawi, why is theft of public money cheap.
How come president Mutharika and his ministers find corruption sustainable if there’s no money for a 50+1.
Its unfortunate that the UK government trained this myopic George Kasakula. He cant be honest and understand that PAC has just done the right decision. Why are you too emotional George? I look forward to the day when MCP shall win and we see what else you will write about MCP. YOu seem to be too holier and hell bent. Maybe you dont know the implications of what you advocate for. Akazako amapilira ndithu kusaganiza kumeneko. Learn from The Nation newspaper.
THEY HAVE BROUGHT THE BILL INTO PARLIAMENT & WITH THAT,PAC HAVE DECIDED TO COUNCAL THE PROTESTS BECAUSE THE PROTESTS WERE AIMED TO THOSE BILLS NDIYE INU MWAYAMBA KUNG’UNG’UDZA, MUKUNG’UNG’UDZA DZICHANI?NGATI MUNACHALILA KUBELA ANTHU PAZIWONETSELOZI NDIYE MWALEMBA MMADZI ACHULE INU. GWILANI NTCHITO KUTI MUPEZE ZOSOWA ZANU OSATI KUCHALILA KUWONONGA ZINTHU NDI MIYOYO YA ANTHU. KODI MUMASAMALA ZA KATUNDU NDI MIYOYO IMENE IMALUZIKA PA MA DEMO? CHONDE VALANI UMUNTHU.REMEMBER THAT,MALAWI IS THE WARM HEART OF AFRICA.
PAC’s actions are dangerous. They made the vice president announce their about their demos. Suddenly they decide to cancel them. Who is in danger here? Is it not the vp?
PAC is lead by lazy people!
I have now figured it out that when PAC members are broke this is how they raise money ! Their palms have been oiled. ………..they are all a bunch of crooks! PAC just like DPP you have betrayed/let down Malawians , you might as well disband.
So this U-turn by PAC has bruised the Daily Times? Kasakula should know that whatever the outcome of this bill the beneficiary is DPP and its candidate. Why is Kasakula so myopic on a simple matter like this? Why is Kasakula and his MCP so blind that they are failing to see that there is no way Chakwera can benefit from this 50+1 proposal? Which opposition party will side with MCP in a re-run? I want any MCP member or Chakwera himself or these so called political analysts to name a party in the opposition which is showing interest to support MCP in a re-run. MCP is good at convincing its supporters for a win. It has been doing this for all the previous elections but come results, despite winning by-elections the party fails. Wakeup MCP, which party will back you in a re-run? Is it PP? Are you banking on UDF? Is Chihana and his dead Aford giving you hope? Kasakula, take the whole page in your MCP newspaper and tell us which party in the opposition will give winning votes to your Chakwera?
It’s not which losing parties that join another taking part in an election re-run; it’s the individual voters who realign their support to parties participating in a re-run. And depending upon their level of grievances with incumbent President, can vote for any opposition candidate that represents change to them.
So accept 50%+1 as a measure of strong mandate for any winner
You’re right M’MALAWI WENIWENI, it’s not about which party will support which if we go for a re-run, it’s about the pain people are going through that will make them definitely vote otherwise. I for one voted against mcp many times before because I was misled to believe democracy would bring better life for all but now it’s worse than during Dr Band’s era. Tell me, were people educated how good multi-party would be when they chose to vote out mcp? No , they used their experiences and those experiences were far better than the suffering we are going through today. One thing for sure dpp don’t have numbers as much as the opposition but the failure of the dpp have just created those numbers for the opposition.
Santana, kodi Chakwera and M.C.P anakulakwira chiyani? this issue of reforms started by D.P.P am sure you are aware of that, what other people and or parties are doing is just to follow what your Government promised Malawians.
These bills are not for M.C.P nor and or your Party as you are saying, it is for the goodness of Malawians.
I once asked you but you did not came back after that question, let me ask again.
Why was it that the Government your own Government had headache with these bills while it can help them win elections? Some times i wonder if you are a Malawian. Who ever may be the president in Malawi, we are saying he must be chosen by majority, are we saying by his party?
There are a lot of people who does not belong to any party but they are Malawians and they will vote as well, do you know whom they will vote for?
Inu mudzathawatu inu zinthu zikadzasintha, amene mukuwaona zitsiru mmaso mwanuwa ali President !!
Can Kamlepo and Chakwera school us on what steps are taken before the bill is taken to Parliament? Can the same two people open our eyes on the badness of the changes which cabinet has done in including MPs and councilors on the 50+1 proposal?
I am disappointed to see PAC dancing with Snakes. Komatu a Malawi tichenjere chifukwa mkulu wins wanzeru zakuya anatilangiza kale kuti NJOKA SAWETAAAA! OWOO.
Who cares!
Mwamuna nzako ndi pachulu, osagenda ku polisi chamba chili m’thumba, if you own a glass house do not throw stones