PAC for radical reform of governance
Public Affairs Committee (PAC), an interfaith democracy watchdog, says there is need for Malawi to radically reform its governance architecture if it is to develop in the next 50 years.
In a press statement issued yesterday, PAC said it will continue to make its contribution by way of enhancing public dialogue on issues of constitutional review, electoral reforms and devolution, including federalism.
The statement comes after PAC’s National Stakeholders’ Forum for Inclusivity and Federalism held on November 24 and 25 at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre.
“In order to deal with issues identified, reforms in the economic, public and governance sectors should be linked. Any reform operating in isolation is likely to fail unless it feeds and benefits from other reform initiatives.
“It is clear from the forum that federalism was seen as a completely different idea separate from devolution. As PAC, we note that federalism is a system of government that re-enforces devolution,” reads the statement co-signed by PAC chairperson the Very Reverend Felix Chingota and PAC publicity secretary Father Peter Mulomole.
PAC said availability of funds for such a constructive debate will dictate the pace and the time frame at which the debate on federalism should take, nevertheless PAC will not be moved by emotions but will follow a process approach.
In response to government’s call for discussion and debate on issues of federalism, PAC responded by convening the national stakeholder’s conference with an overall goal to promote a common understanding on inclusivity and federalism thereby reducing the potential for violent conflict.
