PAC says cashgate should be ‘turning point’ for Malawi: Chingota replaces Tengatenga as chair
The quasi-religious Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has said it will organise a national conference to deliberate on the evils besetting Malawi including the cashgate scandal.
PAC said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times on Wednesday that after its meeting in Lilongwe that they will also organise interdenominational prayers “to reflect on the current crisis” before Christmas.
“We have noted that currently Malawi is at the centre of financial crisis due to what has revealed itself to be the stealing and looting of financial resources,” said the statement from the clergy.
“ Whilst Malawians are ashamed of the emerging reality, they have been surprised at some steps and strides put in place by government that seem to portray uncoordinated efforts; slow application of law; slow investigation processes; and therefore failing to restore public and donor confidence,” the statement reads.
PAC said they have agreed to organize a 3rd All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference early next year to allow stakeholders to thoroughly examine the current political and economic challenges the country is facing.
It said the conference will help “to effectively understand and come to grips with details as to how, when and what caused the cash-gate scandal.”
“The cash-gate scandal should be a turning point to reform our country and change our moral behavior in order to develop Malawi,” said PAC in a statement.
The proposed theme of the conference is : “Malawi at Crossroads – Enhancing Transformative Leadership through Holding Leaders and Ourselves Accountable” .
The statement said stakeholders to the conference will include, among others, CONGOMA , CSO Grand Coalition, Business Community, people of good will , Malawi Congress of Trade Union, faith-leaders, Law Society of Malawi, media, political party representatives, selected members of Parliament, State officials, academia and youth coalitions.
Leadership changes
Meanwhile, the inter-faith civil society grouping has accepted the resignation of Bishop James Tengatenga to allow him prepare for his departure to United State.
In July this year, Tengatenga was appointed dean of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth College in the US and was expected to take up the position early 2014 but the institution withdrew the employment offer over his anti-gay remarks.
“The meeting thanked Bishop Tengatenga for his contribution made to PAC and wished him success as he goes to undertake new endeavours,” said the statement.
PAC resolved that Rev Dr. Felix Chingota, Vice Chairperson, be the Chairperson of the influential grouping “with effect from 5th December, 2013 till such a time the PAC AGM reconvenes.”
Chingota is Blantyre CCAP Synod’s moderator of St Columba CCAP congregation
The meeting agreed that Sheik. Dr. Salmin Omar should serve as Vice Chairperson and Bishop Geoffrey Matonga to serve as PAC treasurer.
The Board of Trustees elected Rev. Dr Timothy Nyasulu of Malawi Council of Churches to serve as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and Bishop Montfort Stima of Episcopal Conference of Malawi was elected Vice-Chairperson of the same Board.
PAC is made up of the main Protestant, Catholic and Muslim faith groups in Malawi.
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