Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Serah Makondesa Chilora
Published on 2024-04-08 08:19:24
The Public Affairs Committee (Pac) has recently made a significant plea to its members, urging them to refrain from showing favoritism towards specific presidential candidates in the upcoming 2025 elections. This call for neutrality comes in response to veiled attempts by certain religious leaders to advocate for their preferred candidates whenever election campaigns intensify. The chairperson of Pac, Father Patrick Thawale, emphasized the importance of religious leaders remaining impartial in election matters during a meeting in Mangochi District where highlights on the Cannabis Regulation (Amendment) Bill and rising water levels in Lake Malawi were discussed.
Various officials, including representatives from the National Water Resources Authority and the Cannabis Regulatory Authority, addressed the assembled Pac members and mother bodies such as the Malawi Council of Churches, Evangelical Association of Malawi, Muslim Association of Malawi, Episcopal Conference of Malawi, and Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi. Thawale stressed that the clergy’s credibility is compromised when they show bias towards specific candidates based on personal affiliations, highlighting the need for impartiality in the electoral process.
Additionally, Thawale cautioned against weak intra-party democracy and hate speech, warning that they could potentially lead to conflicts during primary and general elections. He emphasized the importance of inclusivity, transparency, and accountability in electoral processes to mitigate internal party divisions. While specific intra-party issues were not explicitly mentioned, instances of disputes within political parties like the Democratic Progressive Party and the Malawi Congress Party were cited as examples of potential conflicts that could arise.
Thawale also expressed concerns about the current economic challenges facing Malawi, noting that the high prices of goods and services are exacerbating the hardships faced by the population. He emphasized the need for swift decision-making, enhanced transparency, and accountability in political governance to improve the country’s economy. Thawale called on the government to address the pressing issues affecting Malawians, highlighting the importance of sound democratic governance in driving economic development.
In response, Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu assured that the government is actively working to revamp the economy, citing commitments from the leadership to resume direct budgetary support and the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Credit Facility. Kunkuyu highlighted various initiatives in sectors like mining, agriculture, tourism, and digitization that are expected to stimulate economic growth and improve the country’s financial outlook.
Pac also expressed concerns about potential voter apathy in the 2025 elections due to perceived failures in economic and democratic governance. Thawale underscored the need for stakeholders to encourage participation in the elections, emphasizing that good governance is essential for national peace and transformative leadership.
In conclusion, Pac’s message reinforces the importance of neutrality, accountability, and inclusivity in the electoral process, while also highlighting the need for effective governance and economic reforms to address the challenges facing Malawi. Through collective efforts and positive engagement, stakeholders can contribute to a more transparent, inclusive, and participatory electoral system that fosters transformative leadership and national development.
Read the original article on The Times
