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| Front Page |
| PAC condemns intolerance |
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by
Joseph Langa, 29 May 2003
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17:24:24
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The Public Affairs committee (Pac) has condemned the spirit of intolerance and exclusiveness among leaders and political parties, saying people in authoritative positions are distorting governance procedures to further the interests of a few.
Pac chairperson Boniface Tamani in a statement cites the recent barring of People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) interim cochairman Jimmy Koreia-Mpatsa at the opening of the trade fair in Blantyre last Saturday as an act of intolerance.
Nkhoma Synod of the CCAP and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) recently also condemned imposing of leaders and lack of tolerance among leaders and political parties, which they said, threaten the country’s young democracy.
Pac says intolerance contradicts the calls for peace and national unity that the leaders are fond of preaching, saying “national unity that completely excludes other legitimate groups in society is mere lip service and a lame excuse for deceiving the masses.”
PAC has also condemns the application of section 65 of the constitution, which he said is applied against those with opposing views to the ruling UDF.
“We observe that section 65 is applied in a manner to frustrate actions of those who hold opposing views to the ruling party. Our view is that such approach to interpreting section 65 of the constitution is unfair and diminishes the confidence that people have in the institution of Parliament.
“We urge the Speaker of Parliament and all officials holding key public positions to strive for integrity and demonstrate impartiality in dealing with national issues,” says Tamani.
Speaker Davis Katsonga recently fired Blantyre Kabula MP Jan Jaap Sonke, arguing that he crossed the floor for resigning from the UDF, according to amended section 65.
But he quashed a similar application from Karonga Northwest MP Green Mwamondwe (Aford) who wanted the Speaker to declare vacant seats for seven Aford MPs including Chakufwa Chihana, Wallace Chiume and Khwauli Msiska who are in government.
Attorney general Peter Fatchi and Information minister Bernard Chisale could not be reached for a comment because their phones could not be reached.
But Director of Information Robert Ngaiyaye disputed the allegation on the interpretation of section 65 saying the Speaker based his argument on what is provided for in the constitution.
“It is unfair for Pac to attack the Speaker because he was only using a provision in the constitution. It is also unfair to blame the Speaker for favoritism on his decision to dismiss Mwamondwe’s application.
“All the Speaker said was that the MP was not the right person to file that application. They should have waited for someone to file the application and see how the Speaker would interpret it before accusing him,” he said.
In the statement, Pac also condemns political parties like the UDF for imposing leaders and harassing their members for holding different on certain issues like the third term bill, saying parties need to observe the values of democracy, which include the respect for diverse views.
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