PAC, govt tout progress after conference

The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and the government technical team (GTT) have highlighted key developments achieved following proposals made by delegates during the 5th All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference in Blantyre.

The two parties made the observation during their recent dialogue meeting held in Lilongwe last week after months of disagreements on the way forward.

Following the previous agreed guidelines, PAC and GTT prioritised their discussion on electoral reforms, Malawi

Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Local Government Act Reforms in addition to formulating rules of procedures and terms of reference during the meeting.

In a communiqué dated September 15 jointly signed by GTT leader Samuel Tembenu and PAC chairperson the Reverend Felix Chingota issued at the end of their dialogue meeting, the two parties noted that since the conference was held in Blantyre in June this year, some key developments have occurred.

These included enactments of the Access to Information Bill (ATI), Green Belt Initiative Act and creation of the Green Belt Authority, the National Planning Commission Act and the establishment of the National Planning Commission.

Commenting on the two parties’ settlement after prolonged differences, governance and social analyst Undule Mwakasungura described the development as welcome, urging the parties to sustain the pace of progress.

During last week’s dialogue meeting, PAC sought to know the position of government on the electoral reforms while also restating its desire to see that the amendments to the Local Government Act are tabled in Parliament.

Tembenu, who is also Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, told The Nation in an earlier interview that his team gave PAC the commitment to take the electoral laws to Parliament come November this year.