……Dialogue for National Good: A Call to Patriotic Responsibility
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Civil Society Election Integrity Forum (CSEIF) has commended religious grouping Public Affairs Committee (PAC) for convening the all-inclusive stakeholder conference taking place from 20th to 21st May 2025 at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.
PAC conference which is timely and compels the theme, “Securing Consensus on Transparent and Accorntable Governance Through Dialogue.”
In a press statement issued on Sunday, May 18 and signed by CSEIF chairperson Benedicto Kondowe lauds the religious grouping for responding to calls for meeting ahead of September 16 general elections.
“We applaud PAC’s consistency in providing a trusted platform for inclusive national dialogue since its inception; fostering reflection, consensus, and solutions on critical governance and development challenges.
“This year’s focus on elections, political violence, and the economy speaks directly to Malawi’s pressing priorities. These are not isolated issues but interconnected pillars that determine the stability and future of our democracy and national wellbeing,” reads CSEIF statement in part.
Kondowe observes further, “Dialogue of this nature is essential in anchoring national building efforts in shared values of transparency, accountability, peace, and economic justice. As CSEIF, we urge all stakeholders to approach this dialogue with constructive engagement, sobriety, and a deep sense ofnational responsibility.
“Let the discourse transcend partisanship, and avoid devolving into a talk show for political expedience. Instead, it must be grounded in truth, patriotism, and a collective commitment to the greater good while remaining sensitive to the legitimate interests of various actors”.
He stated, “We believe this is a pivotal moment to clearly define the boundaries between institutional independence and the imperative of accountability in safeguarding electoral integrity.
“We also believe such a forum offers an opportunity to reset the tone of our national conversations andreimagine a future where dialogue is not episodic but embedded in our democratic culture”.
Kondowe concludes, “We further call for actionable outcomes from the dialogue that can feed into reforms and policy direction for a stronger Malawi.
“Let us rise above divisions, engage honestly, and act boldly in the interest of the nation. It must challenge pessimism for hope, apathy for action, and personal gain for the collective good”.
PAC meeting comes amid misunderstandings between Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and political parties on how this year’s general elections that system of voting is being questioned including the use of system.
