CSOs trash govt dialogue meeting
Civil society organisations (CSOs) say the Presidential Contact and Dialogue Group (PCDG) meeting in Salima is a time-waster to the ongoing dialogue between government and civil society as government already knows problems it must resolve to alleviate citizens’ suffering.
PCDG held a two-day meeting for 20 clerics in Senga Bay Salima from Thursday ‘to seek views from the clergy’ to map the way forward for 2012.
But PCDG chairperson Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Bernard Malango said the meeting was one of normal consultations.
The two sides have been meeting under the UN-sponsored government and civil society dialogue to address a 20-point petition presented to government on July 20 this year.
However, a member of the CSOs dialogue team Benedicto Kondowe said government has not shown seriousness since the dialogue and instead it has employed delaying tactics.
“They have the right to hold that meeting because we also had ours in Mangochi. But the whole dialogue process is cosmetic.
“Government knows the problems and instead of resolving them, they are busy meeting. Government has run out of ideas.
“There is no commitment to deal with the problems,†said Kondowe on Thursday.
Kondowe said civil society organisations raised concern over the slow pace of the dialogue, noting the process should have been concluded by now.
“Through that meeting, government wants to be seen as doing something when they are not. They know the problems and why not just provide the solutions?
“We have been meeting for months now and the situation is getting worse. Some teachers are not paid, no maize at Admarc, no drugs at some hospitals and yet government brags about that things are under control?
“Any responsible government should have thought about these problems with urgency,†said Kondowe, adding that the next meeting of the two sides is in January 2012.
But Malango said the meeting is to ensure that the clergy are familiar with what the PCDG is doing and to explore what is it that the clergy can do with the PCDG and the civil society organisations.
On Thursday, Malango confirmed that some clerics were already arriving for the conference.
He said the Chief Secretary Bright Msaka was to be the guest of honour.
He said after meeting the clergy, the committee may also meet other stakeholders.
Last month, CSOs in the dialogue team expressed displeasure with delays by government to address some issues that need short-term solutions.
According to the CSOs, Malawians are now losing interest in the dialogue and see it as time wasting. The CSOs suggested to have a clear time framework rather than open-ended.
But Malango said the dialogue was making progress and that efforts are there to find solutions to some of the issues raised in the petition.
He cited the reopening of the Chancellor College and reinstatement of four fired lecturers at the college following the recommendations from the dialogue process.
