PAC plan another ‘future of Malawi’ conference: Worsening corruption on agenda

An all inclusive quasi religious Public Affairs Committee (PAC) sponsored indaba is on this year where  a cross-section of Malawians will be  discussing the future of the country and  tackle the growing corruption.

PAC executive secretary Robert Phiri said the meeting will take place either in April or May depending on the availability of donors.

“As PAC, we have the dates for the meeting but we cannot announce them because they depend on the availability of donors who will fund the meeting, they usually sit on the meetings,” he said.

Phiri said the main issue to dominate the meeting would be the high levels of corruption in the country.

This comes merely weeks after President Peter Mutharika reluctantly fired his close ally and former Agriculture minister George Chaponda after a presidential commission of inquiry on maizegate recommended he be investigated for possible corruption in the procurement of maize from Zambia.

Phiri also said the meeting will discuss failure by government to implement resolutions made at last year’s PAC meeting.

“That the government has failed to implement the resolutions made last year is the need to have another meeting this year,” he said.

President Peter Muutharika appointed a high levelspecial committee, including cabinet ministers and presidential aide to deal with PAC but later there was a fall out between the two groups.

Dr. Jesse Kabwila-Kapasula, one of President Mutharika’s most acerbic critics, welcomes the idea of the conference saying  most Malawians are not happy with  impunity and corruption in government which is worsening.

“Malawians are tired with the arrogance of this government and worsening corruption,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Malawi  government fear there are plans  to hold anti-government street demonstrations after PAC conference.