PAC says it won’t stop pointing out shortfalls
Public Affairs Committee (PAC), a multi-faith human rights and social watchdog, says it will not stop pointing out failures of government and reiterated that it is not fighting anyone.
PAC spokesperson Father Peter Mulomole said this in an interview yesterday in reaction to sentiments expressed by some traditional leaders in Lilongwe that the grouping should graduate into a political party owing to its hard-hitting criticism of government shortfalls.
He said: “PAC is not fighting anyone. It is our mandate as an organisation to pinpoint the failures of those in power, including the opposition.”
Mulomole said the chiefs were entitled to their opinion; hence, will continue providing checks to those in power.
He also said PAC’s door is open to dialogue.
Yesterday, about 18 chiefs from across the country asked PAC to apologise to President Peter Mutharika and his administration for stating that they have failed to deliver on their promises.
The chiefs expressed their sentiments at a press conference held at Bridgeview Hotel in Lilongwe.
Chairperson of the chiefs’ committee, Paramount Chief Lundu of Chikwawa said that PAC has diverted from its roles as a religious grouping and is harbouring political interests.
He said: “PAC is misleading Malawians and their efforts to get the President to step down have failed.”
In his contribution, newly-promoted Paramount Chief Kawinga from Machinga said PAC should let Malawians individually decide whom to vote for in the next general elections.
Traditional Authority Sawali from Balaka said PAC as a church-based organisation should appreciate what the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration has done in uplifting people’s lives at all levels in the country.
The chiefs’ sentiments were a replica of what Mutharika and DPP functionaries have said in reaction to PAC’s recent critical statement on shortfalls in political and economic governance. n
