LILONGWE (MaraviPost)–The participants to the just ended two day central region stakeholders forum on inclusivity and federation which the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) organised have suggested that the seating head of state must not aligned to any cultural grouping as a way of addressing tribalism and regionalism tendencies which have social complications to Malawians.
This comes amid allegation that PAC was being bribed by some quarters of the society for it not to proceed with the facilitation of the debate on federation which PAC has categorically denied hence the holding of these regional consultations to prove the detractors wrong.
Pac has scheduled a series of regional meeting to its stakeholders on federalism, starting with central region which was held in the capital Lilongwe on June 15-16, 2015 aimed at soliciting views from Malawians on the subject matter.
With the theme titled, “Enhancing a common understanding on inclusivity and federalism in Malawi”, the central region meeting attracted participants from religious leaders, media, chiefs, politicians, donor communities, social and political commentators .
The stakeholders to the meeting suggested that the seating head of state should not be a patron to any cultural grouping citing Mulankho wa Lomwe which President Muthalika is aligned to saying such linkages promote tribalism and regionalism tendencies whose impact is favouritism towards his own kinsmen on development projects which meant for all Malawians.
The participants also called for electoral reforms suggesting that the President must win with 51% of the national votes saying such margin gives him or her mandate to rule the country with trust and confidence.
Another resolution made was on transition period saying that the newly elected president must be sworn in two months after the general elections as a way handling over developmental plans from their predecessors which will facilitate sustainable development.
The grouping has also appealed for the formulation of National Development Board which will be mandated to follow up all the campaign promises presidential candidates made before general elections by tracking them down for implementation. This board will be also tasked to hand off the developmental plans to the newly elected leadership for continuation rather keeping on introducing new programs.
On Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)’s chairperson and commissioners, the stakeholders have agreed that their positions must be advertised in the local press which will follow with interviews that Malawi Parliament will approve their appointments unlike the seating President make such appointments and political parties sending their representatives which leads to politicising the whole MEC as they only serve their masters than Malawians.
Another hot suggestion was that the seating president must not appoint a Member of Parliament (MP) as a cabinet minister which mostly his or her portfolio is always politicised rather serving Malawians.
Later, the Maravi Post caught up with Reverend Dr Felix Chingota, PAC’s Chairperson on the journey of soliciting views from the general public on federation as whether was a way to go for Malawi.
Dr Chingota said the regional meetings were based on the resolutions made during the national conference held in November, 2014 in Blantyre which empowered PAC to continue raising awareness and promote common understanding to the regions on federation.
“Its clear in our articulated objective that the question on federation can better be realized through a process approach and Pac cant pronounce on whether the country should go federal or not but provide an opportunity where the articulated objectives and come up with a roadmap.”
“This is what we are doing starting with the centre then lest of the regions will follow. We are sticking to our words and promise in discharging our duties as a trusted religious body whose interests are for Malawians.
“We expect to rap up the regional consultations by end of this month, June 2015 that by end of this year, 2015, we are done with this subject matter. The final resolutions will be presented to the authorities on what Malawians will decide on federation”, assures Dr Chingota.
The general outlook of the central region meeting showed that federation was a way to go for this country due to unequal distribution of resources as key catalysis to the whole debate.
Public Affairs Committee is one of the powerful religious grouping whose influence on Malawi’s political scene is undisputable which is comprise of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Malawi Councils of Churches (MCC), Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), Quadria Association of Malawi (QAM) and Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM).
Apart from fighting for democracy during 1994 elections, PAC was also instrumental in thwarting former president Bakili Muluzi’s infamous third term and open term bids.