By Dickson Kashoti

Veteran Journalist Dickson Kashoti has taken time to analyse some of the issues presented by the Public Affairs Committee when they met President Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace on Monday.

1. Handling of Corruption: PAC expressed disappointment with the inaction and indecisiveness in addressing corruption allegations, especially involving senior government officials.

MY RESPONSE: President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has been swift in dealing and handling corruption issues whenever they arise.
President Dr Chakwera acts immediately the Anti-Corruption Bureau effects an arrest on a public officer or is booked for a corruption case.
For example, President Dr Chakwera suspended the powerful and influential Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima when he was indicted on Sattar corruption charges.
President Dr Chakwera also fired the former Inspector General of Police Mr. Kainja.
However, he cannot act on social media gossip.
He only acts when ACB has formally charged a public officer.
Put it simply, President Dr Chakwera’s fight against corruption is on track and the country is winning.

2. Economic Mismanagement: The organization criticized the deteriorating standard of living, with high commodity prices outpacing citizens’ incomes and inadequate fiscal policy management.

MY RESPONSE: This is a global economic trend due to global economic meltdown.
Even developed countries are facing high inflation rates pushup food prices exorbitantly high and leaving most people in abject poverty in developing countries, including Malawi.
This is the reason the government has put in place short, medium and long term economic policies and plans to reverse the situation such as mtukula pakhomo, the NEEF agricultural loans, AIP, Mega Farms etc.
Even if PAC was a political party and was in government, they could have faced a similar situation which has been caused by a number of factors which include natural disasters such as cyclones in the case of Malawi, epidemics and pandemics such as COVID-19 and cholera, the war in Ukraine etc.

3. Excessive International Travel: PAC pointed out that the administration’s frequent international trips created a perception of excessive public expenditure amid economic hardships.

MY RESPONSE: All the foreign trips President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera undertakes are beneficial to the nation, especially the poor.
His recent trip to United Arab Emirates has brought the latest cargo of fuel when the country was in dire need of the commodity.
After all, not all trips are funded by the government.
The United Arab Emirates trip is an example which was fully sponsored by Abu Dhabi.

4. Civil Service Leadership Gaps: The committee highlighted dysfunction and demotivation within the civil service, citing the long-vacant Principal Secretary Administration position in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).

MY RESPONSE: The position will be filled soon.

5. Governance and Election Preparedness: PAC criticized the suppression of opposition demonstrations and raised concerns about politically motivated arrests, warning that these actions could undermine the credibility of the 2025 elections.

MY RESPONSE: President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and the ruling MCP never suppress opposition protests.
Anyone, including the opposition, have a Constitutional right to demonstrate.
However, experience has shown that opposition sponsored demos turn violent and thieves usually take advantage of the chaos to loot shops.
Vendors and shop owners usually gang together to prevent such chaotic occurrences to protect their businesses, this is why they hire panga wielding muscular men.
On the so called politically motivated arrests, the police arrest anyone, regardless of political or religious affiliation, as long as they they are against the law.
We have seen even members of the ruling MCP being arrested.
It is surprising that some people think opposition members are immune from arrests and prosecution, this is wrong.
Any wrong doer will always be arrested and prosecuted in a competent court of law regardless of one’s standing in the society, political and religious affiliation, tribe and where one comes from.
No one is above the law.