PAC rebuke chiefs, governance watchdog adamant on pointing shortfalls

The Public Affairs Committee (PAC), a quasi-religious body and governance watchdog, has told off  traditional leaders in Lilongwe who were mobilised by government to ask the leadership of the grouping to apologise  to President Peter Mutharika and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), for stating they have failed to govern the country.

About 18 chiefs from across the country addressed a  news conference at Bridgeview Hotel in Lilongwe on Thursday, led by four  Paramount chiefs, saying the multi-faith organisation  released a statement without consulting Chiefs and the Malawians.

Chiefs took turns to spell out different developmental activities taking place in their local area of jurisdictions.

Chairperson of the chiefs’ committee, Paramount Chief Lundu from Chikwawa said PAC has failed to carry out its intended mandate and the only way forward is that let the form political and join mainstream politics.

He said the grouping has diverted from its roles as a religious grouping and has political motives.

“PAC is misleading Malawians and their efforts to get the President to step down have failed,” Lundu, who slightly drunk, said,

Traditional Authority Sawali from Balaka said Malawi is a peaceful country and accused  PAC of fanning turmoil.

Paramount chief Kyungu said PAC has lost direction, saying the organisation should also chronicle  what Mutharika administration  is doing to uplift  peoples’s lives.

“We are asking PAC to be responsible and don’t give the President unnecessary pressure,” said Kyungu.

Some of the chiefs present at the news conference included  Paramount chief Ngongoliwa from Thyolo, , Senior Chief Kameme from Chitipa. Senior Chief Tsabango from Lilongwe, Senior Chief Dambe from Mchinji, Senior Chief Kalonga from Salima.

Others  were  newly promoted Paramount Chief Kawinga from Machinga; Senior Chief Chikowi from Zomba, Inkosi Makwangwala of Ntcheu.

But PAC publicity secretary Father Peter Mulomole  has said the groupinG will not stop its  watchdog role in pointing failures of government.

Mulumole said the chiefs are wrong to accused PAC of having sinister motives, saying the grouping us not fighting anyone.

“We are within our mandate to pinpoint the failures of those in power , including the opposition,” said Mulomole.

PAC said the country was currently experiencing mediocrity as poverty levels have been deeply entrenched among ordinary citizens.

The grouping accused  the DPP administration and its leadership lack vision to steer the country into prosperity.

PAC  said during the past three years, the DPP administration has failed to fulfil its own manifesto, citing what it described as deep-rooted corruption, fraud and selective justice.

“After a careful examination on incidents of corruption, we note that the DPP administration has been greatly characterised by corrupt practices, financial indiscipline and selective justice,” said PAC chairperson the Reverend Felix Chingota.

He also noted that the DPP continues to embark on selective justice as those who are within and close to the system do not face the wrath of the law.

“This may lead people to conclude that those in leadership especially in the higher echelons of the administration also benefit from the questionable deals that have been revealed to date,” he said.

PAC would be holding the Sixth All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference in May this year where it will ask Malawians to decide the next action as regards the future of the nation.