Drama, hope as parties sign PAC peace accord

Amid ululation and interruptions from unruly supporters, the 12-person strong cast of presidential candidates yesterday signed the Lilongwe Peace Declaration to ensure the elections due in just under a fortnight are peaceful, free and fair.

And there was a call from the clergy; if the elections are to be successful, the candidates must prepare for the worst case scenario of defeat.

For a moment—as rival party supporters started trading mocking songs inside and outside Civo Stadium in the capital Lilongwe while the candidates signed the accord after inter-faith prayers—the exact peace the accord was designed to protect, appeared at risk but calm returned.

At one point, a group of unidentified opposition supporters standing just a few metres away from President Joyce Banda seated on the VIP stand chanted songs against Cashgate as officials paced up and down to restore order.

Master of ceremonies Fr. Peter Mulomole was forced to remind the sizable audience that the ceremony was religious as the chanting near the end of the event threatened to ruin the success of unifying the candidates.

Delivering a sermon in English, Evangelical Association of Malawi’s Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe said the election will test the faith of the nation and its commitment to peace, but challenged all election stakeholders to rise to the occasion.

He called upon the parties and candidates to prepare for the prospect of failure, saying the country’s peace hinges on the way candidates will react to news of defeat.

“When everything is said and done, this election, like any other election, will produce winners and losers. As the Bible is reminding us, those who will win must win with dignity and honour. They must show love so that their ways honour God. Equally, those who will lose the elections must accept the results humbly,” added Bvumbwe.

He further preached for national unity after the polls; calling for winners and losers to join hands in nation-building after May 20.

“Malawi will still need a constructive opposition,” he added.

The Reverend Chatha Msaangambe, delivering a Chichewa sermon, said the country has been peaceful for a long time because of God’s intervention, citing several government transitions marked with tension without resulting in conflict.

However, Msaangambe warned the party forming the next government against unfulfilled promises; and drew applause for cautioning the nation to be wary of the proliferation of prophecies about who will win the election. The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) organised the event.