PAC, MEC to hold separate prayers
Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) will hold separate prayers despite the short time remaining towards the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections.
Last week, presidential candidate of People’s Transformation Party (Petra) Kamuzu Chibambo said he had discussed with PAC on the possibility of holding joint prayers with MEC.
However, MEC has hinted that it will hold the prayers on May 1 2014, while PAC’s prayers are scheduled for May 10.
MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said on Monday, it will be difficult to have joint prayers with PAC as they (MEC) are advanced in preparations.
“That (joint prayers) will be difficult because we are far ahead with preparations. Secondly, there is nothing like many prayers and whoever wants to hold them is free to do so,” said Mwafulirwa.
PAC publicity secretary Father Peter Mulomole also dismissed the idea of holding joint prayers as preparations are different.
“We are planning differently and the intentions are also different,” said Mulomole.
Political analyst Henry Chingaipe said he sees nothing wrong with holding prayers differently so long as the dates are different.
“We should be holding prayers for the elections every day. So, if PAC and MEC are holding them on different dates and venues, I see no problem with that,” said Chingaipe.
MEC prayers, whose theme is Free, Fair and Peaceful Elections; is Anything Hard for the Lord? have been organised to pray for peace towards the elections.
They will be led by various faith groups that include Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM), Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi, Evangelical Association of Malawi, Malawi Union of the Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal churches.
During PAC prayers, presidential candidates will sign a peace pledge as a way of ensuring violent-free elections.
The signing of a peace pledge is a good idea. But what does one do if the winner has rigged the elections? Should they not protest because they signed a pact and mourn in silence? What would PAC do if some candidate refuses to sign the peace pledge?
PAC has not told us to date of what they discussed with JB when they met her to present resolutions of the PAC conference? Who are they serving, their bellies or the people? PAC needs to come out clean and do the needful. Otherwise so many pacts are not taking us anywhere when they can not enforce conference resolutions.