By Wezzie Gausi
President Lazarus Chakwera has challenged Malawians to always strive to promote peace and unity, saying that is the only way for the country to develop.
Chakwera was speaking at Kamuzu Palace yesterday at the swearing-in of eight commissioners of the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission.
The President appointed the commissioners on November 2, 2023 and they were all approved by the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament.
Chakwera said the establishment of the commission is key to providing a strong institutional framework within which peace-building initiatives will be coordinated with consistency, thus nipping any threats to Malawi’s peace and unity in the bud.
- Advertisement -
“Events in recent memory and at various points in our history should give us sufficient cause and pause to see the importance of having this safety net.
“We may not have had any armed conflict here, but as we all know, there have been many occasions on which our people’s religious, regional, tribal, political and moral sensibilities have either been intentionally or inadvertently stoked and provoked to destabilise the country,” the President said.
Speaking on behalf of her fellow commissioners, Emma Kaliya, who is also executive director of the Malawi Human Right Resource Centre, and represents the civil society in the commission, said the establishment of the group has come at right time as Malawi approaches the 2025 elections.
Kaliya said through the commission, all Malawians will be brought together to sort differences amicably.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
“I believe, as newly appointed commissioners, we have a huge role to play if the country is to sustain its peace and unity all the time.
“Our work will be in vain if we are left to do our job in isolation. This is why we will need support from everyone in the country,” Kaliya said.
Apart from her, the other commissioners are Sheikh Ali Makalani, Reverend Zacc Kawalala, Bishop Mary Nkosi, Paramount Chief Kyungu, Francis Mkandawire, Simon Munde and Mwandida Theu.
The commission has also incorporated the Secretary for Peace and Unity, the solicitor General and the Secretary for Homeland Security as ex-officios.
