Mutharika gives nod to PAC mediation on Malawi political tension
President Peter Mutharika has opened doors for the State House to meet Public Affairs Committee (PAC), a quasi-religious body formed in 1992 during the country’s political transition from one-party to multiparty system of government, to find solutions to post-May 21 Tripartite Elections crisis.
Both PAC and State House confirmed the meeting would take place on Friday in Blantyre.
Presidential press secretary Mgeme Kalilani confirmed the President’s commitment to meet the PAC delegation at Sanjika Palace at 2pm on Friday.
PAC executive director Robert Phiri also confirmed that “the President has opened the door to us.”
The PAC mediation team comprises members from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM), Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi (QMAM) and Malawi Council of Churches (MCC).
Led by Archbishop Thomas Msusa, who is the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Blantyre of the Catholic Church, PAC embarked on a dialogue initiative in a bid to pacify the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition parties disputing the May 21 Tripartite Elections results, especially in the presidential race.
Their first first level of dialogue was with UTM Party president Saulos Chilima and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera.
While PAC rolled out its mediation drive, Chilima and Chakwera filed a petition in the court seeking nullification of the presidential election results over alleged irregularities.
Msusa said the PAC mediators were pleased that during the meetings with UTM and MCP leadership, the Lilongwe Peace Declaration document was a point of reference and that one of the outcomes was the use of complaint mechanisms by the two parties through seeking legal redress.
He said as the situation evolves, there could be” potential for other issues to be settled politically.”
The governance watchdog is also set to meet the leadership of Human Rights Defenders Coaltion (HRDC) which continues to organise nationwide demonstrations to force chairperson of Malawi Electoral Commisison (MEC), Jane Ansah to resign over what the grouping alleges that she presided over the fraudulent May elections.
Commentators have since welcomed mediation efforts of PAC as well as former president Bakili Muluzi to resolve teh post-May elections stalemate as a positive step for the country.
They are place trust in the credibility of the PAC team.
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Jane must not resign unless proven guilty by the court. Is the opposition and HRDC the court? Why are you forcing her to resign as if you have proven her guilty. Jane is innocent. If you are sane people why not allowing the court to do its job? To hell with your mob justice. Long live Jane Ansah Dr. Kuluza ndikopweteka. Ndaonera chakwera ndi Saulos. A pac akufuna zokambirana chifukwa cha pressure yochokera ku bungwe latsopano lija. Nthawi yonseyi anali kuti? Ma demo anayamba kalekale nthawi yonseyi anali kuti?
We already said the issue of dem is not on the diolog,
This is the time, President listern to the Malawians what they want<<<<<<< is just simple Jane Assa must resign from her position before thing get to uncontrollable.
Who are the Malawians? The violent people of Lilongwe and Mzuzu only? We are also Malawians in the rest of the country and we are not doing violent protests.
which people are you talking about mtambo,chakwela,chilima and you? shame your are going to pay on this idiot.
PAC I know is the voice of the voiceless, not the forum, but go there with one agenda to fire Jane Malemu Ansah, rerun of election and also evangelise the guilty party to repent.
Koma za chisankho zafikapo. Just spotted the MEC spokesperson Mr Sangwani driving vehicle without number plate. Achotsachotsa kuti asadziwike
Our PAC leadership, you have only one agenda to pursue at this meeting and that is to demand that APM fires Ansah. Thats the only solution to the current impasse. Dont mention Mtambo, Trapence, Chakwera, Chilima, demonstrations or whatever which is not Ansah. This is your chance our religious leaders to redeem the lost faith we have in you due to your partisan conduct during campaign. We also hope that there is no Bvumbwe and Tamani among your delegation. We need to be represented by credible people not cadets.
The same PAC that endorsed the demo? They’re unfit to mediate. They are overtly partisan
It is the constitution the gives people right to demonstrate.
I just hope Vumbwe is not one of them. Akulirenji Vumbwe otantha pa tsekela
MSUSA UKANGOLANDIRA CHIBANZI KUMENEKO TIDZIWA, KIDI IWO APITALA MESA ATISUMILA WCC NDIYE PANOPA PALIBE ZOKAMBIRANA TIKAKUMA KU WCC KONKO IFE SITIKUOPA CHINA CHILI CHONSE CHIFUKWA IFE SI OLAKWA
As long as PAC does not compromise on stolen votes. What is null and void remain so.
Move in the right direction