Religious body Public Affairs Committee (Pac) Friday clarified that it is Malawians who must decide the fate of President Peter Mutharika and his government, a day after it described the administration as a total failure.
Malawi News yesterday asked Pac publicity secretary, Fr Peter Mulomole, to clarify on the body’s statement released on Thursday. It suggested that the government has failed and has, therefore, lost its right to govern.
“We, members of the Pac Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and representatives of mother bodies met at Mount Soche Hotel from 1-2 March 2017 , 20-21 March 2017 and 3-4 April 2017, and resolved to take a concrete position that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration has failed to perform, and that its leadership has demonstrated indecisiveness on critical matters..” reads the statement partly.
Mulomole on Friday maintained the body’s stand that the DPP government has lost the right to govern but added that it is up to Malawians to take the right course of action as a remedy.
“We will host a 5 + 1 All-Inclusive Meeting early May, when Malawians will decide on how to deal with the government. Pac has just given its opinion as a body of religious leaders who speak through the eyes of God I hope,” Mulomole said.
Reacting to the statement, government spokesperson Nicholas Dausi described Pac’s observation as unfair.
Dausi said the statement borders on bad faith from the grouping which he said does not see anything good in the government.
“I have seen many pastoral letters and there is always some percentage of moderation and gentle advice but not in that statement. We, as the government, understand [the situation] because the present composition of Pac has a premeditated hatred against the DPP government. They want to start a war of words with the government but we will not join [them],” Dausi said.
Dausi conceded that there is corruption in the country but said the fight against the vice requires collective efforts from stakeholders such as the church.
Pac held a press briefing on Thursday and tore apart the DPP-led government after its failed meeting with President Mutharika.
Mulomole added yesterday that it is unfortunate that, some 52 years after independence, Malawi is ranked among the poorest countries in the world.
Mulomole said it is high time the country stopped entertaining mediocrity in the country’s leadership, blaming low levels of development on mediocre leadership.
Mulomole said, for a long time, Malawians have been choosing leaders who do not meet citizens’ expectations, further warning that, at the rate the country is sliding backwards, the country could be worse off in 100 years’ time while all its neighbours are making socio-economic gains.
“We are reminding them of their manifesto. They promised to transform people’s lives and eradicate corruption. That is not happening. A road here, a stadium there is not transformation. Malawians need to go deep and think outside the box. This government must concede [that] it has failed,” Mulomole said.
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