President Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday took on civil society organisation (CSOs), challenging them to be providing checks and balances on development projects.
Chakwera made the remarks at Katoto Freedom Park in Mzuzu City, where he presided over this year’s Umodzi Day commemorations.
“We are currently distributing maize to 5.7 million people who were affected by floods and drought in the country. This is one of the exercises aimed at uplifting the lives of Malawians, whom you say you speak for.
“But the so-called CSOs are just quiet, as if they are not concerned with this exercise. We expected you to follow this maize; is it being given to the right people?” he said.
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On the importance of the day, Chakwera said the event was aimed at fostering unity and coexistence among Malawians of diverse political affiliation, ethnic grouping and religion.
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However, the event faced a political standoff, with opposition political parties in no-show.
They cited government’s lack of commitment to promoting peace following recent spates of violence in Lilongwe and Blantyre cities.
Representing faith-based organisations under the Public Affairs Committee (Pac), Fr Mark Mkandawire said young people had a role to play in conflict resolution and peace building.
Mkandawire condemned acts of violence in the country, saying the practice was a primitive way of gaining political gains.
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“At the heart of Pac is conflict prevention. That is why, in 2019, we trained youths across the country in how they can report violence and safeguard peace,” he said
Representing the youth, Peace and Unity Commissioner Mwandida Theu said Malawi’s population was largely youthful.
She, however, said youths continued to face socio-economic challenges.
“This limits our participation in conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms and pushes us into being agents of violence.
“The Nap [National Action Plan] has been developed based on a thorough analysis of such challenges and has proposed action to address them in order to turn our young people into agents of peace,” she said
Representing all political parties, Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) Chairperson Elias Chakwera hoped that political parties would endeavour to safeguard peace if the country were to have credible elections on September 16 2025.
“How I wish political parties who are represented in CMD could have been here today.
“Together, we could have demonstrated that we can be united without being uniform. This is the spirit of multiparty democracy,’ he said
This year’s celebration was themed ‘Cultivating A Culture of Peace through Active Youth Engagement’.
Apart from pavilions displaying cultural diversity, the event, the second of its kind, was parked with cultural performances and prayers.
