Governance and human rights activist Undule Mwakasungula has urged the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) to embrace engagement and dialogue approach, arguing threats and ultimatums to the government are not a solution to socio-economic challenges facing the country.
The call by Mwakasungula comes in reaction to sentiments made by PAC during the interface meeting with President Lazarus Chakwera.
Among other issues, the quasi-religious body criticized the Chakwera administration for failing to mitigate economic hardships and allowing nepotism and selective justice to flourish.
They consequently gave the President three months to reshuffle his cabinet.
Reacting, Mwakasungula has urged PAC to embrace contact and dialogue approach not threating the President with ultimatums.
“We must remember always that Malawi is the only country we know and we have to co-exist, tolerate each other regardless of our political differences. No matter what challenges we are facing as a country we must adhere to our constitutional benchmarks to safeguard our hard-won democracy.
“Therefore, PAC must contribute to pacifying the national situation by advocating for continued peaceful means of engagement and dialogue to find lasting solutions to our national challenges,” said Mwakasungula.
According to Mwakasungula, Malawi has become a country polluted with ultimatums from left and right- saying this not health for the nation.
He has also blamed the vice president’s ministry of economic planning and development over its silence on what government is doing to ease economic hardships.
He has proposed that the president should de-link the Ministry from the current holder to be independent so that it can seriously focus on reviving the national economy.
While condemning nepotism, Mwakasungula was quick to say that the country should not deny relations of any President, Vice – President, Ministers, or any politician in getting employed by the government because they are related to the leaders.
“If these are Malawians and professionals, let them serve in whatever capacity for their country transparently and competitively. Let us not deny them the opportunity to serve their country because they are related to the President or any national leader,” said Mwakasungula.
Further, he argued that appointments of relations to diplomatic posts did not start now; it was in times of Kamuzu Banda, Bakili Muluzi, Joyce Banda, Peter Mutharika and should not be a strange thing now.
Further Mwakasungula has also questioned why PAC is only targeting the secretary in the office of president cabinet when there are many Ministers and some top civil servants that are not performing.
