Malawi challenges CSOs to remove divisions

Malawi Government has called on civil society organisations (CSOs) to remove divisions among them and speak with one voice.

Government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu said this in reaction to observations made by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) last week that divisions among CSOs were contributing to governance failure in the country.

Said Kunkuyu: “We encourage cordial relations among the CSOs so that they can engage government with one voice although concentrating in various fields. We understand them because they have been divided in the past and their relations with government have not been that rosy.

“We can mend that with speed if they speak with one voice as they have done most times.”

Kunkuyu challenged the CSOs to engage the people on the ground on various issues so that they [CSOs] remain relevant all the time.

“It is the responsibility of the CSOs to keep in touch with the people that they serve. We have seen them doing that all the time and if there is an area they feel government can help them to enhance that coordination and consultation process, we are willing to consider looking into that,” said Kunkuyu.

Asked about the poor relations between CSOs and government, Kunkuyu said  President Joyce Banda has shown a spirit of inclusiveness on matters of national interest as evidenced by the talks she had with the opposition parties.

“In the same spirit, that olive branch is readily available to the CSOs as important partners,” he added, “the CSOs have their mode of operation which is a linkage point with government which serves the same people that they serve.”

Last week, CCJP said CSOs and government were failing Malawians in ensuring governance because of the poor relations among them and with government.