PAC starts interviewing diplomatic appointees

Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament yesterday began confirmation hearings for President Peter Mutharika’s diplomatic nominees with lawmakers questioning the suitability of individuals selected to represent Malawi amid calls for strong qualification standards.

PAC chairperson Felix Njawala said in Lilongwe yesterday that the committee is expected to conduct about 20 confirmation interviews involving ambassadors, high commissioners and consuls-general designate.

The hearings, which started yesterday and are expected to run through the weekend, seek to assess whether the nominees possess the competence, integrity and capacity to advance Malawi’s interests on the international stage.

On the opening day, the committee interviewed four nominees assigned to key diplomatic missions.

Njawala said recommendations from the hearings will be submitted to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) after the process concludes.

He said PAC was drawing lessons from diplomats who have successfully served under successive administrations.

Said Njawala: “There are several people who have served as heads of mission in almost every government over the past 15 to 20 years.

“We want to understand how and why they have managed to represent successive governments. Probably, they have what it takes. From such people, we have managed to draw lessons that can help us scrutinise the President’s appointments.”

However, he expressed concern over the absence of minimum academic or professional requirements in the current law governing diplomatic appointments, arguing that the complexity of modern diplomacy may warrant stricter eligibility criteria.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Principal Secretary Chauncy Simwaka, who briefed the committee, confirmed that the law currently only requires diplomatic appointees to be Malawian citizens, without prescribing academic or professional qualifications.

He said the ministry is reviewing the Foreign Service Act and plans to table amendments before Parliament where qualification requirements for ambassadors and high commissioners could be considered.

Simwaka also announced plans to introduce a formal performance appraisal system for diplomats to strengthen accountability and guide decisions on retention or recall.

He said: “Going forward, we need a systematic appraisal system for ambassadors and high commissioners.

“We also need regulations on how appraisal results will be used, including guidelines for recalling diplomats, so that such decisions are not left to subjective judgement.”

Among those interviewed yesterday were Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga, designated High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Edward Sawerengera heading to the United States, Evans Matabwa going to Germany and Yusuf Aufi headed for Kenya.

Speaking after his interview, Sawerengera said attracting American investment would be among his priorities if confirmed.

He said: “We have many development aspirations but limited capacity. If we can attract investors to Malawi and partner with them, we can unlock significant economic and social transformation.

“America is one of the world’s leading economies and has vast expertise and investment potential that Malawi can benefit from.”

Mutharika has appointed 13 ambassadors, nine high commissioners and four consuls-general designate.

The committee is expected to continue interviewing nominees assigned to South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, the United Nations, Japan, Egypt, India, China, Kuwait, Belgium, Switzerland, Qatar, Morocco and Brazil.

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