PAC influences change

Public Affairs Committee (PAC) established in 1992 has been a force to reckon with as far as political change is concerned.

The first team of PAC comprised Blantyre and Livingstonia CCAP Synods braved the leadership of the late Kamuzu Banda when they presented a letter to ask him to disarm the notorious Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) and Malawi Youth League.

In 2002 it also rose up against the third and open term bid for the former president Bakili Muluzi together with other religious and NGO leaders.

This time with economic hardships facing the country, it has also engaged all stakeholders to speak with one voice forcing president Binguwa Mutharika to put his house in order or else call for a referendum.

Retired CCAP Blantyre Synod Reverend Saul Chitsulo giving the brief background of PAC said the two synods contacted Roman Catholics and the Anglican leaderships to petition the strongest regime of Africa led by late Kamuzu Banda.

Chitsulo said during that time cabinet ministers tried to block them from presenting the letter to Kamuzu but God intervened and eventually they presented it.

“What we wanted was for Kamuzu to disarm MYP as well as Malawi Youth League and he could not do that.

“We had to engage an extra gear that saw the MYP officer fighting army officers and eventually our prayers were answered and the notorious groups were disarmed,” said Chitsulo.

PAC Secretary General Sheikh Imran Shareef said the body is not divided and it has been speaking with one voice.

He said the group is working towards presenting the petition to the president.

“Religious bodies are one voice and our communiqué is ready for the president, but certain procedures have to be followed,” he said.

On March 14-15 this year the PAC meeting was largely attended by all religious institutions.