Cashgate: PAC meets Feb 24 to discuss handling of Capital Hill plunder
The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference, expected to discuss the cashgate scandal and the handling of the matter by government, has been slated for February 24 this year.
PAC executive director Robert Phiri confirmed in an interview on Sunday that the conference, to be held at a venue yet to be identified, would gather at least 90 participants, especially key stakeholders who participated in the previous similar event.
He said it was the expectation of PAC, a democracy watchdog comprising religious bodies, that delegates to the conference would discuss issues with sober minds as the aim was to come up with resolutions that could be respected by all governments that would come beyond the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections.
Said Phiri: “Yes, we recognise that this could be a hot issue, but our conference will cover broader issues beyond cashgate. We are aware that people will raise it. It is our view that we have to look at issues with a sober mind rather than being emotional. We will be looking at principles rather than personality issues.”
Sources told The Nation late last year that PAC would not stop delegates to the third All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference to call for the resignation of Malawi President Joyce Banda if the forensic audit will link her name to the looting of public funds at Capital Hill.
A similar conference in March 2012 gave a 60-day ultimatum to former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika to address various challenges facing the country at that time, including the scarcity of forex and fuel.
Mutharika died midway the 60 days ultimatum and PAC board and other stakeholders organised a follow up conference whose outcome were presented to Banda at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre.
However, Phiri in an interview on Sunday said the objective of the conference is to have resolutions that can help turn around our country which will soon be 50 years old.
“PAC conference has been slated for 24-27 February, 2014. We target to invite at least 90 participants who will deliberate on issues surrounding transparency and accountability, and how best Malawians can insulate against constant changes to existing policies in line with High Level Development Council,” he said.
He said the organisation was aiming at enhancing constructive broad-based debate so that deep-rooted challenges were dealt with by any government that comes in power.
Said Phiri: “So, we will not be looking at personality issues but principles and issues that can be respected by any government that gets in power. Of course, PAC will allow participants to freely express their views constructively. We are building on previous outcomes of PAC conferences.
“We have shared our ideas with the State side and I think they do understand our role and objective of the gathering. In no way are we targeting the government. We are partners in development.”
Phiri said the conference would have presentations on the first day and come up with resolutions which would be shared with relevant authorities on the second day.
Maybe at long last solutions to the many questions Malawians have concerning their destiny could be found. Let me take this opportunity to wish the conference fruitful deliberations
The Catholic Church had requested us Malawians to show holy anger, a request we have not honoured. In the absence of a strong opposition voice, what should the citizenry do? I wish Dr Chakwera and Atupele Muluzi would take the issue to the masses and apply pressure to the government to come up with real big fish. Otherwise, the PP government is applying every tactic for the issue to die naturally and put in place legal impediments before elections in May.
Our taxes cannot be stolen just like that by Joyce Banda and her followers. It was a scheme or a plan to steal the money for campaign and personal enrichment. Mr. Joster Njanji who retired at P4 was called back from retirement to replace a young Matanda as PS Finance at OPC where Lutepo got most of the money. Njanji brought his own accounts personnel who included Frank Mwanza. Joyce Banda had given consent to this and this time around she not look innocent. She does not explain where she is getting money for cows, shoes and maize. Go ahead PAC.
I only hope the meeting will tackle issues such as PP cash gate vehicles not seized by the police, suspects named in the cash not arrested up to now i.e Makande and the owner of LUSO Television, the issues surrounding the Jet and that it must be claimed back if no transparency found on the issue, the issue of IG being rendered incapacitated i.e he is not working but Bopham has taken his place who is a relation to JB, Khumbo Kachale being rumoured to be a relation to JB.
PAC beware of Orane Mandasi and Masikono. Once you bite it you can. Not spit it out-It sticks like glue. Ask aCB!Ask Police! Ask. DPP,ask the Judiciary, ask Parliament ,ask the CSO,s .ask Religious Leaders,ask Chiefs,ask Journalists -You could be the next. Victim.Cash Gate yapha ambiri. I. Wish you the best
Our letter writing campaign to foreign government is baring fruit. We are hearing from EU, the US Canada France, China and many other countries that see some sense in our argument . Joyce Banda was the kingpin and the spin doctor for Cash Gate. The sole purpose for this evil activity was to raise funds for PP campaign in the name of undisclosed well wishers and to buy votes from poor masses. This government must be thrown out by any means necessary!!!!! Joyce Banda and all her cronies must be arrested and charged!! Malawians must take to the streets PAC can not sit phwii while we have people in this countries dieying due to lack of drugs in our hospitals. Joyce Banda should not be allowed to play holly art though handing out the looted funds to buy votes.