Crash probe shakes Pac

OPC’s appointment of Pac chair Monsignor Patrick Thawale into the Chilima plane crash inquiry without the civic rights body’s knowledge and consent, as is procedure, is tearing the organisation apart

By Jonah Pankuku:

All is not well within the Public Affairs Committee (Pac), a highly-regarded body in Malawi.

The conflict in the quasi-religious organisation originates from the inclusion of its chairperson Monsignor Patrick Thawale in the Commission of Inquiry into the plane crash that killed Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others on June 10 this year.

We have gathered that Pac board members were not amused with Thawale’s “unilateral move” to accept his appointment into the Commission.

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According to insiders, the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) was supposed to, as is procedure, issue a formal written request to the grouping to nominate who would represent it in the inquiry.

That did not happen. OPC just picked Thawale.

The move has thrown Pac into a state of conflict especially now that some individuals and groups are publicly expressing discontent with the findings of the inquiry.

Malawi News understands that when Pac initially queried the appointment, OPC said it had invited Thawale to sit in the Commission in his personal capacity.

But Pac’s board members found the arrangement erroneous and the conflict within is worsening.

“Board members are angry at what happened. They question why authorities approached Monsignor Thawale in his individual capacity on such a contentious issue.

“Traditionally, the OPC was supposed to formally write our secretariat and submit a request to have Pac representation in the inquiry. What happened puts us in a very awkward position,” a board member said.

The source further revealed that tempers flared at Pac board executive meeting in Mangochi on Monday when, in his opening remarks, Thawale indicated that he had represented the institution during the inquiry.

“Almost everyone was surprised with such remarks since we know he didn’t represent us. He got a personal invitation and not under the Pac tag.

“So, we don’t want to be part of the resolution that the Commission of Inquiry into the plane crash agreed. The members asked him to shelve that discussion for another day. We have more questions on what happened,” said the well-placed insider.

Another source alleged that this was the second time that Thawale was incorporated into a commission of inquiry without prior approval of the board.

The source said members are now suspicious why the government is having “a soft spot with him”.

“During the controversial arrest of the former Anti- Corruption Bureau Director General, Martha Chizuma, we learnt that Monsignor Thawale simply got a phone call from a senior party member alerting him of his appointment into that Commission of Inquiry. These developments are certainly raising eyebrows on the motive behind,” said the source.

We contacted Pac spokesperson, Bishop Gilford Matonga, for his comment. He referred us to Pac Executive Director, Robert Phiri, saying this was an operational matter.

In a written response, Phiri said Pac secretariat did not receive any letter regarding Thawale’s appointment in the Commission.

He added that Pac was told he was appointed in his individual capacity as a citizen of Malawi.

“What I know is that the Executive Committee has interrogated the matter and will examine it further in a bid to review Pac’s code of conduct.

“As regards the inquiry report, we have received a copy and the Board of Governance as a whole will go through it and pronounce its stand,” Phiri said.

He further said it is difficult for Pac to state its position before discussing the report and seek clarifications where appropriate, “should there be any opportunity.”

Communications Officer at OPC Robert Kalindiza had not yet responded to our questionnaire as we went to press yesterday.

Thawale also referred us to Phiri.

But governance commentator George Chaima said whether Thawale was invited in his personal or official capacity, the normal procedure was that his appointment was supposed to be communicated to Pac as an institution due to sensitivity of the matter.

“Bypassing the standard procedures or any set rules for Pac has the possibility of compromising the outcome of the entire report.

“It may also influence Pac to distance itself from its involvement in the commission of inquiry’s affairs,” Chaima said.

He argued that both Thawale and OPC erred and should find time to clear the mess by engaging Pac leadership.

“Such a decision may weaken Pac’s stand in siding with the findings of the Commission of Inquiry while also causing internal conflict among Pac members,” he said.

High Court Judge Jabbar Alide chaired the plane crash inquiry whose findings ruled out any foul play.

It attributed the disaster to human and environmental factors.

On Wednesday, during a Christmas service, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa of the Blantyre Archdiocese of the Catholic Church trashed the findings of the inquiry, a position that has stirred widespread and varying reactions.

He said he was not convinced with what the inquiry came up with.

But Msusa said no matter how long it takes, truth shall prevail on the crash.

Coincidentally, Msusa chairs Pac’s mediation team.

The Commission submitted its report to President Lazarus Chakwera last week.