PAC meets ‘big four’ over Malawi elections
Malawi’s interfaith organization, Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has met four main contenders in the presidential elections on their concerns over last week’s polls currently under dispute following numerous registered irregularities.
The presidential candidates PAC has met are Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, Lazarus Chakwera, United Democratic Front (UDF) leader, Atupele Muluzi, Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Peoples Party (PP) leader, Joyce Banda.
PAC Head of Programmes said a six-member team of clergies met the four on Saturday and Sunday in Blantyre and Lilongwe to discuss, among other things, their perception toward the current electoral situation. 
“Our discussions are based on the Lilongwe Peace Declaration which they signed. It is like a lunch pad for us to engage them in discussing the current electoral situation,” said Phiri,
“We wanted to get their views, what they think can be the best way forward to resolve the situation.”
He said the meeting was first level of analysing the current situation whereby political parties have engaged into legal battle over the decision by Malawi electoral Commission (MEC) to recount votes following numerous irregularities in some of the polling stations.
Phiri said the six-member team of clergies was expected to analyse views of the four presidential candidates before the Committee deliberate on what action to be taken to ensure peace and fairness prevail.
“The analysis the team will give will be looked into by the Committee, which will decide our second level of engagement with the candidates. But be informed that we are monitoring the situation and we will ensure that political parties adhere to the Lilongwe Peace Declaration,” he added.
Phiri insisted on the candidates to champion peace during the electoral process especially at the time when the elections results have been rocked with irregularities, which include bloated number of voters comparing to the registered figures.
