By Cathy Maulidi:

The Public Affairs Committee (Pac) is set to meet with President Lazarus Chakwera today afternoon in Lilongwe to discuss the pressing challenges facing Malawi.

Pac Executive Director Robert Phiri confirmed the meeting, saying that it aims to explore solutions to the nation’s problems, including the struggling economy, fuel crisis, hunger and other critical issues.

According to Phiri, the meeting is a crucial step and a follow-up engagement aimed at addressing the country’s challenges.

“It is a meeting that was initially scheduled for December 6 last year, but due to the busy schedule of the Head of State, it was postponed to this year.

“Well, the agenda will be formally adopted tomorrow [Monday]. I am aware, though, that the current economic and political situation will be deliberated upon. You may recall that in November 2024, we raised a number of issues and the Executive Committee may wish to follow up on some of them,” Phiri said.

Chakwera’s spokesperson, Anthony Kasunda, also confirmed the meeting.

In a previous meeting with Chakwera, Pac presented several issues, including a request to reduce the size of the Cabinet to 15 members.

The meeting also comes a day after UTM president Dalitso Kabambe wrote to Pac, expressing his concern over what he called the deteriorating state of affairs in Malawi.

Kabambe, in his letter to Pac, pointed out what he called the urgent need for collective action and dialogue to address myriad challenges facing the nation.

“As we navigate these turbulent times, it has become painfully clear that the current state of affairs requires our collective attention.

“The issues at hand— be they related to the commission of inquiry into the Chikangawa plane crash, hunger, impunity, selective justice, governance, judicial corruption, tribalism, nepotism, fuel shortages or election preparations…,” he wrote.

Kabambe added that the issues demanded sincere and honest engagement among all stakeholders.

“It is imperative that we come together as a community to address the pressing concerns that threaten our unity and progress. I call upon the Public Affairs Committee to take a proactive stance as a beacon of hope and unity,” he said in the letter.

Kabambe urged Pac to convene a stakeholders’ meeting that brings together representatives from various sectors of society to deliberate and find solutions to the challenges.

He also requested Pac to engage with him in order for him to share his ideas and solutions with the committee.

In the past, Pac was a powerful force in Malawi’s governance landscape, often leading the charge for change and accountability.

Its voices were synonymous with social justice, challenging the status quo and calling out corruption and human rights abuses.

However, in recent times, some ha