Sunday, May 29, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home News National News

PAC plans another stakeholders meet

by Staff Writer
03/07/2012
in National News
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) says despite the change of leadership in the country, Malawians still need to review democratic challenges and constitutional gaps that still exist to realise real democracy.

In a narrative report of the March 2012 All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference, PAC says there should be a follow-up conference to, among other things, consider the view that the presidency has “too much powers in Malawi.”

PAC executive director Robert Phiri confirmed in an interview on Monday there was a strong call for a follow-up conference to identify few key issues that could restore Malawi’s democratic vision and norms.

Said Phiri: “During the last conference, there was a key observation that the presidency has too much power in Malawi. This is what we heard and what we hear so far. Of course, we are not referring to anybody, but the office and whoever assumes that office.

“As such, PAC will consult on which provisions in our legal framework are a source of impediment in realising political will. We must look at the systems that govern power and limit the exercise of unreasonable authority.

‘People should speak their mind’

Phiri said it may be too early to say comprehensively what the conference would deliberate on, but he said in its advocacy role, PAC wants people to speak out their mind as far as democracy was concerned.

He said the leadership change does not mean that democracy has been achieved; hence, the follow up conference would help share experiences and focus on new opportunities and challenges.

Said Phiri: “We don’t want to pre-empt, but we anticipate that issues regarding our political architecture and the whole constitutionalism may be of relevance, coupled with the 2014 tripartite electoral process. Time is not on our side. We must tighten our belts now.”

The report also reveals that the Limbe Cathedral Conference, which received the then government’s bashing, was funded by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (Osisa).

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration then said PAC was working with opposition leaders to plan an unconstitutional regime change.

Too much power on Presidency

In an interview on Monday, Chancellor College political science associate professor Blessings Chinsinga supported the notion that the Presidency as an institution has “too much” power.

He also supported the idea of a follow-up conference, saying although there has been a change as prayed for at the conference in March, the country needs working systems more than just individuals.

Chinsinga said the presidency, as an institution, has too much of both formal and informal powers that are not subjected to checks and balances as such a follow-up conference would re-examine such excessive powers, he said.

Minister of Information and government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu on Monday said government welcomes the proposal by PAC to have the conference because it was in line with the mandate of the religious body of ensuring good governance and democratic tendencies in Malawi.

On the presidency having too much powers, the minister said such a view is understandable because people have cried foul in the way those excessive powers have been abused previously which, he said, will not be the case under President Joyce Banda.

Previous Post

Extradite Chanthunya, SA court rules

Next Post

SRYFC nominates Missi for top seat

Related Posts

Muluzi: I am grateful for the support
Front Page

Atupele Muluzi quits active politics

May 29, 2022
National News

Chakwera calls for unity in Africa

May 29, 2022
Malawi Broadcasting Corporation journalist Chikondi Phikiso receives her
dose during the launch of the campaign
National News

Blantyre vaccinates 1.3m against cholera

May 29, 2022
Next Post

SRYFC nominates Missi for top seat

Opinions and Columns

People’s Tribunal

People deserve an unconditional apology

May 29, 2022
Big Man Wamkulu

How do I blind my nosy wife?

May 29, 2022
Off the Shelf

Poor timing of Aggreko decommissioning now hurting

May 28, 2022
My Diary

Corruption as an elephant

May 28, 2022

Trending Stories

  • People travel on the first part of the East Bank road from Thabwa

    K14bn road fund down the drain

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • ACB sleeps on Bingu’s wealth investigation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Acb explains Sattar miss

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • RBM justifies devaluation stance

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gone but still in our midst

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Malawi-Music.com Top10

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.