The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) executive committee is operating more than three years beyond its mandate, raising serious governance and legitimacy questions about one of Malawi’s leading democracy watchdogs. However, the organisation insists its leaders are not clinging to power.
PAC’s current executive, led by Monsignor Patrick Thawale, was elected in December 2019 for a three-year term that expired in December 2022. Yet, the body has not held an elective annual general meeting (AGM) to choose new leaders.
The delay has drawn criticism from legal and governance experts, who view the situation as a test of PAC’s credibility as an advocate for accountability and democratic principles.
PAC executive director Robert Phiri defended the leadership, saying their continued stay in office was sanctioned by the Board of Trustees.
“No executive committee member is clinging to power,” Phiri said in an interview on Thursday.
He explained that the trustees extended the committee’s mandate under provisions of the PAC constitution to ensure continuity while key organisational issues are addressed.
Bishop Magangani
Two years ago, Board of Trustees chairperson Bishop Fanuel Magangani said the extension was partly meant to allow completion of a review of the organisation’s constitution before adoption at an AGM.
The decision relied on Article 15.4, which allows an existing executive committee to continue operating if a new one has not been elected.
However, a source from one of PAC’s five “mother bodies” said financial constraints are a major factor behind the delay, as affiliates are expected to contribute resources toward holding the AGM. The mother bodies include the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB), Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM), Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi (Qmam) and Malawi Council of Churches (MCM).
The current executive team includes Osman Karim (vice-chairperson), Reverend Father Francis Mkandawire (board secretary), Bishop Gilford Matonga (publicity secretary) and Reverend Davidson Chifungo (treasurer), alongside several executive members.
Despite the explanations, governance experts warn the prolonged stay in office carries significant risks.
South Africa-based Corporate and Institutional Integrity Africa chief executive officer Francis Ndende said continued leadership beyond a prescribed term raises legal, ethical and governance concerns.
“At the heart of the matter is legitimacy. Authority must be exercised within a valid mandate, and public confidence is essential,” he said.
Ndende warned that such situations can lead to accountability deficits, dangerous precedents and erosion of internal democracy. He added that PAC faces reputational risks, given its public role in promoting accountability and ethical leadership.
He recommended urgent corrective action, including transparent stakeholder engagement and convening an AGM to regularise leadership.
Governance and human rights advocate Undule Mwakasungula echoed similar concerns, saying delayed elections weaken accountability by denying members an opportunity to assess leadership performance.
He also argued that PAC risks losing its influence.
“PAC is known for promoting accountability and democratic governance. If its own leadership exceeds its mandate, it raises questions about whether it practices what it preaches,” he said.
Mwakasungula further observed that the organisation has lost direction and risks becoming “just another advocacy platform” if internal governance issues persist.
Another expert, George Chaima, warned that remaining in power beyond a mandate can erode public trust and create opportunities for institutional capture.
“The danger is that when constitutional provisions are ignored, power accumulates and democratic values are undermined,” he said.
In response, Phiri maintained that PAC’s actions remain constitutional, arguing that trustees acted within their legal authority.
He cited provisions that empower trustees to take necessary actions to achieve the organisation’s objectives, including extending the executive’s mandate.
“Trustees are the legal custodians of the institution and exercise powers within the constitution,” he said.
Looking ahead, Phiri said PAC plans to convene a Board of Trustees meeting to determine dates and processes for the long-awaited AGM. The secretariat will then update the executive committee and leadership of the mother bodies.
He acknowledged the delay but said the organisation is prioritising key reforms before holding elections.
Among the issues under review are criteria for admitting new members and strengthening the code of conduct—areas he described as critical to PAC’s effectiveness.
“From a technical standpoint, it is prudent to address these issues comprehensively rather than in a piecemeal manner,” Phiri said.
Founded in 1992 by religious groups, PAC played a pivotal role in Malawi’s transition to multiparty democracy, including facilitating dialogue that led to the 1993 referendum.
Since then, it has remained an influential voice on governance, often criticising policy failures and mediating political disputes, including electoral tensions in 2014 and 2019.
More recently, on September 8, 2025, PAC brought together 12 presidential candidates in Lilongwe to sign a peace declaration committing to non-violence.
As the organisation navigates its current leadership impasse, analysts say its next steps will be critical in determining whether it can maintain its standing as a credible champion of accountability and democratic governance.
